Assam's Rupamoni Gorh Honored for Historic Everest Climb

Rupamoni Gorh, the first woman from Assam to reach the summit of Mount Everest, was honored by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a ceremony in Guwahati. Gorh was part of the ITBP's first all-women Everest expedition, which achieved this historic feat on May 21. She shared her challenging journey, including rigorous training and the physical demands of high-altitude climbing. Her story inspires many as she overcame significant obstacles to achieve her dream.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 27, 2026, 10:59 IST

Celebration of a Trailblazer

In a special ceremony at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recognized Rupamoni Gorh, the first woman from Assam to conquer Mount Everest. During the event, which took place on Sunday, the Chief Minister awarded her financial support of ₹10 lakh in acknowledgment of her remarkable achievement.

A Historic Expedition

Rupamoni Gorh made history as a member of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police's (ITBP) inaugural all-women international Everest expedition, which successfully reached the peak on May 21. This accomplishment not only marked her as the first woman from Assam to summit the world's tallest mountain but also highlighted the significance of the all-women team.

Gorh's Inspiring Journey

Gorh recounted her experience of joining the ITBP's groundbreaking all-women Everest expedition. After completing her basic and advanced mountaineering training in 2024 and 2025, she was chosen as one of 11 climbers for the 2026 expedition. Despite facing numerous challenges, including the burden of heavy equipment, difficulties in eating and sleeping at high altitudes, and intense headaches, Gorh successfully reached the summit on May 21, 2026.

The expedition spanned 24 days from India to Nepal, with the final ascent from Base Camp to the summit taking four days. "Preparation began in 2024 with the basic course, followed by the advanced course in 2025. Out of 14 participants, 11, including myself, were selected for the expedition in early 2026 after two months of pre-training. Initially, I thought I wouldn't continue in this field due to the strenuous nature of the work—carrying gear and managing basic needs at high altitudes was incredibly tough. I also experienced severe headaches. Ultimately, I summited on May 21, 2026, after a 24-day journey from India to Nepal, with the final climb taking four days," Gorh shared.