(October 8, 2025) The extreme weather conditions and deadly crevasses kept challenging him; relentless physical exhaustion and homesickness tempted him to back down. But mountaineer Vishwanath Karthikey Padakanti simply wouldn’t give up.
Having trained hard, he battled every obstacle and stayed focused on his target — the summit of Mount Everest. Eventually, the gutsy youngster made it to the top of the world.
Once a lazy kid for whom health was never a priority, 16-year-old Vishwanath became the youngest Indian and the second youngest in the world to complete the legendary Seven Summits Challenge, scaling the highest peak on each continent. The feat ranks among the most prestigious in global mountaineering.
“Mount Everest had the biggest impact on me among the seven. Once I reached the summit, all the difficulties I faced felt overshadowed by that achievement. It made me realize how much resilience I truly have,” smiles Vishwanath, in a chat with Global Indian.
World record holder
The Seven Summits include: Mt. Everest (Asia), Mt. Aconcagua (South America), Mt. Denali (North America), Mt. Elbrus (Europe), Mt. Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mt. Kosciuszko (Australia), and Mt. Vinson (Antarctica). This recent achievement added yet another feather to his cap. However, the Hyderabad teenager already holds three world records.
“Completing the Seven Summits is a dream come true. It tested me physically, emotionally, and mentally,” says Vishwanath, who also became the youngest person to summit Europe’s highest peak, Mt. Elbrus, in just 24 hours — a feat he achieved on India’s 75th Independence Day.
Everest: The toughest test
“I faced so many struggles like lack of food and water, health issues, and homesickness,” recalls Vishwanath while talking about his Everest climb. His final ascent came on May 27 this year, when he summited Mount Everest (8,848 m) after weeks of gruelling climbing.
He says each of the seven peaks posed different challenges — from terrain to weather conditions. “But comparatively, Mount Everest was the toughest. It’s the longest and most demanding, and on top of that, I struggled with homesickness during the expedition.”
Training for each peak’s specific requirements
The teenager says his training changed depending on the mountain he was preparing for. “Some climbs required more strength training, while others needed endurance, cardio, or weight training. I tailored my workouts to each peak’s specific requirements,” he explains.
He credits his mentors Bharath and Lt. Col. Romil Barthwal for his success. “They’ve been extremely important in my journey. Their constant motivation, guidance, and support helped me bring out the best version of myself on and off the mountains.”
Overcoming obstacles
Sharing some of the most difficult moments from his Seven Summits journey, Vishwanath says crossing crevasses and climbing blue ice were among the scariest parts.
“I overcame those moments by looking to my mentors. They gave me courage and confidence when I needed it most. Mountains are harsh places, and being prepared to face difficulties was part of the journey,” says the young mountaineer, who ensured he had the right gear for every climb.
Sister leads the way
Vishwanath’s mountaineering journey began at the age of 11. One day, his sister Vaishnavi was browsing online when she discovered mountaineering and shared it with their mother, who soon arranged a trek for both children to Mt. Rudugaira in Uttarakhand.
Vishwanath trekked till the first camp but had to return due to Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Nonetheless, that experience turned his life around and sparked his passion for mountaineering.
After his first climb, Vishwanath joined the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) for a 10-day basic adventure course, which deepened his interest further. It was there that he first experienced jumaring, rock climbing, and rappelling. “I built the mental discipline required for high-altitude climbs,” he mentions.
Conquering Mt. Denali
Last year, Vishwanath climbed Mt. Denali, the highest peak in North America, standing at over 20,000 feet.
He began the expedition on June 10, reached Anchorage the next day, and shopped for essentials. “We took the West Buttress route,” recalls the teenager, who reached base camp by June 15.
From there, he climbed for 4–6 hours a day, reaching Camp 1 where he and other mountaineers pitched tents, cooked, and melted ice for water. “We stashed non-essential items in the snow and marked the spot so we wouldn’t lose them. The next day, we climbed for another eight hours,” says Vishwanath, who reached the summit by June 24.
Mt. Elbrus: A special victory
The journey began with two months of rigorous training as Vishwanath prepared to climb Mt. Elbrus in 2022. In his first attempt, he had to return from the lower camps, but on his second attempt, he triumphed, summiting the peak on India’s 75th Independence Day.
“It was a wonderful experience. I met many new people, my cousin accompanied me, and there were two more climbers my age,” he recalls. However, the team faced terrible weather with wind speeds of 40–50 km/hr and temperatures of -30°C. “We weathered these conditions and reached the summit,” recalls Vishwanath.
Kang Yatse and beyond
Within 15 days of that climb, Vishwanath went on to summit Mt. Kang Yatse II and Mt. Dzo Jongo, both over 6,000 meters. “I became the youngest person to do it within 72 hours,” says the student of Resonance Suchitra Campus, beaming with pride.
The following year, he climbed Mt. Kang Yatse I, and again became the youngest to do so. He is also the youngest Asian to climb Island Peak in Nepal. “Mountaineering has completely changed me. It taught me the value of consistency, discipline, and focus,” he remarks.
The Hyderabad boy
Born in 2008 at Hyderabad, Vishwanath studied at DRS Kids till LKG and then at St. Peter’s High School, Bowenpally, where he completed Class 10. “I used to be a below-average student. Once I started mountaineering, my scores increased immensely,” he says.
The youngster mentions that mountaineering is not just his journey—it’s his family’s too. “Everyone at home started eating healthy so I wouldn’t get distracted. Financially and emotionally, they’ve made many sacrifices to help me chase this dream,” says Vishwanath, who has also climbed Friendship Peak in Himachal Pradesh, Dzo Jongo in Ladakh, Nangkartshang Peak, Kilimanjaro in Africa, and Tereskol in Russia.
Discipline and daily routine
The teenager is up by 4:30 a.m. every day and heads straight to the gym. “I go directly to college from the gym. In the evening, I study for about two hours and go to bed by 10 p.m.,” he says.
When preparing for an expedition, he alternates between 5 km and 10 km runs daily during the final month. Outside training, he enjoys waveboarding, skating, and playing games with friends. “I don’t watch TV every day. I like listening to Arijit Singh songs and 2000–2010 hits,” says Vishwanath, who also enjoys public speaking to motivate others.
Aspirations of life
“I want to focus on climbing technical peaks to further develop my mountaineering skills and push my limits beyond the Seven Summits.” He also intends to support environmental and sustainability causes. “Mountains have given me so much, and I feel it’s important to protect nature and spread awareness about keeping our environment clean.”
Vishwanath believes mountaineering in India has huge potential. “Many young people are interested, but they don’t always get the right exposure or guidance.”
Vishwanath hopes to inspire and mentor aspiring mountaineers by sharing his experiences and proving that with discipline and focus, they too can achieve great heights.
“Stay focused, disciplined, and take one step at a time. Don’t try to do everything at once—consistency is the key to big achievements,” says the young mountaineer, who also enjoys various sports and has stood second in state-level weightlifting and third in powerlifting competitions.
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