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Eight mountaineers from Pune group hoist tricolour on Mount Kilimanjaro

The team from the Pune-based Giripremi Adventure Foundation (GAF) included climbers aged between 25 and 63 years, ranging from first-time mountaineers to experienced climbers.

2 min readPuneJan 5, 2026 02:44 PM IST

Eight Giripremi mountaineers unfurl Indian tricolour atop Mount Kilimanjaro during New Year ascent of Africa’s highest peak. (Express)

Marking the beginning of the New Year with an extraordinary achievement, eight mountaineers from the Pune-based Giripremi Adventure Foundation (GAF) successfully hoisted the Indian national flag atop Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, standing tall at 5,895 m.

Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the world-famous Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. Located in the northeastern region of Tanzania near the Kenyan border, Kilimanjaro rises to 19,341 ft (5,895 m). Formed by volcanic activity, it is the world’s highest free-standing mountain, not belonging to any mountain range.

This international expedition, organised by the GAF, witnessed participation by mountaineers representing India, the United States, and the Netherlands. Led by GAF mountaineer Ashish Sanjay Nawandhar, a team also comprising Charulata Pandit, Sanjeev Pandit, Shweta Kurade, Vilas Tarwadi, Nivedita Sharma, Neha Sikchi, and Nidhi Gautam undertook a gruelling nine-hour summit push on January 1, finally reaching the summit at 8.45 am and proudly unfurling the Indian tricolour.

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Except for the final summit day, the team faced continuous rain and heavy snowfall throughout the expedition. The group included climbers aged between 25 and 63 years, ranging from first-time mountaineers to experienced climbers who had completed high-altitude mountaineering courses.

“Though most of the members were previously unfamiliar with each other, they demonstrated remarkable unity and teamwork to achieve this feat. The team was guided locally by Joseph Majuta of Tanzania, whose expertise played a crucial role in ensuring the safety and success of the expedition,” Umesh Zirpe, senior mountaineer and recipient of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, said.

Ashish Nawandhar has successfully summited peaks such as Dzo Zongo, Reo Purgyil, Deo Tibba, and Friendship Peak. The team had undergone months of intensive preparation and also received guidance from Sameer Divekar, head of the GAF.

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