Odisha mountaineer Sidharth Routray scales Mt Everest

NL Today

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Kathmandu: Four down, three more to go. Sidharth Routray of Odisha, an Indian state in Eastern India, is halfway through his ambition to conquer the top seven peaks on each of the seven continents.

On Sunday, Routray reached the peak of Mount Everest. At roughly 4 am, Routray stood atop the world’s highest mountain, waving the Indian flag and Lord Jagannath’s ‘Patitapabana Bana’ (flag).

“I explored the Everest region climbing smaller peaks, and visiting Himalayan villages. The nature there is just breathtaking,” he said in a conversation with Nepal Live Today. “Also, the Sherpas on the Everest are really valiant.”

Routray read books based on Buddhist principles and ideologies before summiting the world’s highest peak. “The books enlightened me, provided me with spiritual energy and inspiration to touch the apex,” he added. 

He had already scaled the highest peaks on three continents: North America, South America, and Africa. Routray, who had previously climbed Mt Denali in North America, Mt Aconcagua in South America, and Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, had ascended Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain on the South American continent, in January of this year.