At just two and a half years old, Udaipur’s Aarya Sikhwal accomplished what few would imagine possible at such a young age, she reached Everest Base Camp in Nepal and became the world’s youngest person to do so. But behind the record lies a story that goes far beyond a remarkable feat. It is a story of a father’s promise to the mountains, a mother’s unwavering attention to her child’s safety, months of careful preparation and a little girl who experienced the world’s highest mountains not as a test, but as an adventure.
Aarya’s parents, Sourav and Neha Sikhwal, say the expedition was never about chasing a record. It was about believing in their daughter, preparing her responsibly and allowing her to experience something extraordinary. From the inspiration that began with Sourav’s first Everest Base Camp trek to the emotional moment when Aarya stood there with the Indian flag, they share the story behind an extraordinary journey.
Q. When did you first realise that Aarya could undertake a journey as challenging as Everest Base Camp?
Sourav’s first Everest Base Camp experience planted the seed. When Aarya was just two months old, Sourav trekked to Everest Base Camp and saw several young children, around six or seven years old, undertaking the trek. What struck him was that he did not see any Indian children. Out of curiosity, he asked one of the Sherpas why there were no Indian children on the trek. The Sherpa replied, “Indians mein itna zor nahi hota.” The statement stayed with Sourav. It hurt him because he felt that perhaps we sometimes underestimate what our children are capable of.
He then made a promise to the mountains that one day he would bring his own daughter, Aarya, to Everest Base Camp.
As Aarya grew, we noticed that she was extremely active, energetic and smart. She loved being outdoors, exploring new places and trying new things. So, when she was around two and a half, we began seriously considering whether we could prepare her for the journey.
It was never about chasing a record or proving anything to the world. It was about fulfilling a promise made to the mountains and giving Aarya an extraordinary experience.
Q. How did Sourav’s first EBC experience change your perspective about taking a child on such a journey?
Before going to Everest Base Camp, Sourav believed it was something only very physically fit adults could accomplish. But seeing young children walking those trails changed his perspective.
He realised that age alone does not define what a child can experience. Preparation, environment, medical supervision, patience and, most importantly, understanding the child are what matter.
That experience stayed with us. Later, when we saw Aarya’s enthusiasm and energy, we thought, why not prepare her properly and see how she responds?
“We simply believed in her, prepared her carefully, stayed beside her every step of the way and gave her the opportunity to experience something extraordinary.”
– Neha and Sourav Sikhwal
Q. What did Aarya’s five-month preparation involve?
We took her preparation very seriously. For around five months, we gradually worked on her stamina, strength and ability to spend time outdoors through walking, running and trekking practice.
Nutrition was also an important part of her preparation. We focused on healthy, nutritious food and avoided junk food. Her diet included dry fruits, fruits, milk, dry-fruit ladoos and high-protein rice cakes.
We gradually increased her walking distances and exposed her to different terrains so that she could become comfortable with uneven trails and long walking days.
Most importantly, we never wanted to push her beyond her limits. We focused on understanding her body and preparing her in a safe and child-friendly manner.
Q. At two and a half, Aarya was too young to understand what Everest meant. How did you prepare her mentally?
We never told her, “You have to climb Everest.” For her, it was simply an adventure.
We used simple language and made everything exciting; the mountains, snow, walking trails, staying in new places and meeting new people. We never made it feel like an exam or a competition.
Whenever she was tired, we gave her a break. Whenever she wanted to explore, we let her enjoy the surroundings. We wanted her to associate the mountains with happiness, curiosity and adventure.
At that age, the biggest achievement was not making her understand what Everest meant. It was making sure she enjoyed the journey.
Q. What was the toughest moment for Aarya on the trail?
There were certainly moments when she was tired because the long walking days were challenging even for adults. Sometimes she would walk on her own, and when she became tired, she would sit on her father’s back and rest for a while.
What surprised us was how quickly she would recover. After some rest, food or simply spending a little time with us, she would become cheerful again and be ready to continue.
We never forced her to keep walking. We simply followed her pace and made sure she was comfortable throughout the journey.
Q. As parents, what was your biggest fear during the expedition?
Our biggest fear was never the record. It was Aarya’s safety.
For us, the goal was always secondary. At any point, if we felt that continuing could compromise her health or safety, we were completely prepared to stop. We had discussed this clearly even before beginning the expedition.
A record can be attempted again, but our child’s safety cannot be compromised.
Throughout the journey, we continuously observed her energy, behaviour, health and response to the altitude. We were parents first, and everything else came after that.
Q. Aarya’s response to the altitude reportedly surprised you. Was there a moment when her resilience genuinely amazed you?
Yes, it genuinely surprised us and made us very proud. We had prepared her well, but we also knew that altitude can affect every individual differently.
There were moments when we saw adults struggling while Aarya was comparatively comfortable, curious and energetic. Her oxygen readings and overall response to the altitude gave us confidence that she was acclimatising well.
However, we never allowed that to make us careless. Even when she was doing exceptionally well, we continued to monitor her closely.
Q. What do you remember most vividly about the moment Aarya reached Everest Base Camp?
That moment is almost impossible to put into words.
Aarya was happy and excited, but she did not fully understand the magnitude of what she had accomplished. She was more fascinated by the mountains and everything happening around her.
I remember starting to cry when I realised that my little baby had achieved a world record. Aarya kept asking me, “Why are you crying, Mumma?” All I could tell her was that they were tears of happiness.
We were standing there thinking about the five months of preparation, the training, the challenges and the entire journey, and then looking at our tiny little girl standing at Everest Base Camp.
As parents, it was a moment filled with immense pride, relief, gratitude and happiness. It is something we will cherish for the rest of our lives.
Q. What did it mean to see your two-and-a-half-year-old daughter standing at Everest Base Camp with the Indian flag?
That moment was much bigger for us than any record.
Seeing our two-and-a-half-year-old daughter standing at Everest Base Camp with the Indian flag was an extremely emotional moment. We felt proud not only as parents, but also as Indians.
The flag represented the entire journey, the preparation, the courage, the support of everyone who believed in her and the dream that had brought us there.
The record may be written in a book, but that image and that feeling will stay in our hearts forever.
Q. Was there a moment during the journey when Aarya made you forget that she was only two and a half?
Many times.
There were moments when we would look at her and almost forget how young she actually was. She would walk through difficult sections, continue after getting tired and then suddenly start smiling or talking as if she were on a normal family outing.
Her curiosity was incredible. Instead of constantly asking, “When will we reach?” she was interested in everything around her.
That innocence and determination made us realise that children can surprise us in ways we do not expect.
Q. Beyond the world record, what has this journey taught you as parents?
Honestly, the record is only one small part of the story.
This journey taught us that we should never underestimate a child simply because of their age. At the same time, it also taught us that a child’s limits must be respected.
Dream big, but prepare responsibly.
Aarya taught us patience, courage and the importance of taking things one step at a time. As parents, we also learned that sometimes we think we are teaching our children, but they end up teaching us much more.
Q. When Aarya grows up and looks back at these photographs, what do you hope she understands about this journey?
We hope she understands that we never took her to Everest for a record alone.
We wanted to give her an experience that would stay with her for her entire life. We wanted her to grow up knowing that the world is much bigger than the things we see every day and that, with preparation, courage and the right support, we can overcome challenges that initially seem impossible.
But most importantly, we want her to know that we never wanted to prove anything through her.
We simply believed in her, prepared her carefully, stayed beside her every step of the way and gave her the opportunity to experience something extraordinary.
And when she grows up, if she looks at those photographs and says, “My parents believed in me,” then for us, that will be the biggest achievement of the entire Everest journey.
