From Sahyadri Trails to Africa's Crown
Manish Yadav’s recent summiting of Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), the tallest peak of Tanzania, marks the first step in his Seven Summits mission
When most 28-year-olds are chasing corporate deadlines, mountaineer Manish Yadav is chasing summits across continents. Recently, the Hyderabad-born adventurer successfully scaled Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the world’s highest free-standing mountain and the tallest peak in Africa (5,895 m). It marked the first milestone in his audacious mission to climb the Seven Summits — the highest mountains on each continent.
The dream, Manish recalls, was seeded two years ago during a trek to Bundi Fort with his siblings. “I met a mountaineer there who spoke about his experiences with Kilimanjaro and Everest. That conversation changed everything. I decided to explore mountaineering,” he says. Having always been drawn to adventure — cycling, scuba diving, aerial yoga, swimming, trekking — Manish found mountaineering the ultimate test of endurance and spirit.
Preparation for Kilimanjaro was rigorous. While working in Pune, Manish spent nearly every weekend trekking in the Sahyadri hills, researching extensively, and watching mountaineering documentaries. He later pursued a diploma in mountaineering, trained with the Rock Climbing Club in Hyderabad, and trekked across several Indian ranges. To build stamina, he also took to long-distance cycling with the Hyderabad Cyclist Group, and swimming. “The mountains demand more than physical strength; they test mental resilience. That’s what I trained for,” he says.
For his Kilimanjaro climb, Manish chose the challenging Machame route, known as the ‘Whiskey Route’ for its difficulty. “Many suggested I take the easier Marangu route since this was my first international summit, but I wanted to test my endurance. I also realised we don’t conquer mountains; the mountain allows us to climb. The humility and self-discovery this journey has taught me is priceless.”
The eight-day expedition threw every challenge at him — snow, heat, storms, and exhaustion. “The toughest moment came at Stella Point, just 400 meters from the summit, where many climbers turn back. Even my guide asked me to stop, but I refused. Step by step, I pushed ahead. Reaching Uhuru Peak was surreal — a two-year dream finally fulfilled.”
The journey was entirely self-funded, costing nearly Rs 5 lakhs. While he was felicitated by local political leaders, Manish admits that financial backing is a challenge. “Adventure sports and mountaineering deserve recognition. The government should encourage and support athletes chasing such missions,” he says.
Next on his list is Mount Elbrus in Europe, and he hopes to scale all Seven Summits within three years, a feat that often takes climbers decades.
“If you dream of something, take the first step, no matter how hard it seems. I didn’t know how I’d fund Kilimanjaro, but I managed. Endurance, discipline and belief in yourself can take you to unimaginable heights, literally,” says the intrepid young man.
