Andhra Pradesh mountaineer summits Cho Oyu, setting a historic milestone in Indian high-altitude climbing
New Delhi, October 14, 2025:
Bharath Thammineni, a 36-year-old mountaineer from Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, has etched his name in the annals of Indian mountaineering by becoming the first Indian to scale nine of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks. On Monday, October 14, at 6:55 a.m. China time, Thammineni reached the summit of Cho Oyu (8,188 metres) — the sixth-highest mountain on Earth — marking yet another remarkable achievement in his decade-long journey across the globe’s tallest mountains.
Founder of Boots & Crampons, one of India’s leading mountaineering organizations, Thammineni has now completed nine out of the fourteen “eight-thousanders.” This latest feat was accomplished as a self-supported expedition, with base camp assistance from the Nepal-based organization Climbalaya, further cementing his reputation as one of India’s most accomplished high-altitude climbers.
Reflecting on the achievement, Thammineni said,
“This climb is not just a personal milestone. It is a tribute to every Indian mountaineer who dreams of standing atop the world’s highest peaks. I dedicate this accomplishment to my family, my friends, my team at Boots & Crampons, and to the spirit of India that motivates me on every expedition.”
Over the years, Thammineni has gained recognition as an experienced expedition leader and mentor, guiding teams across six continents. Under his leadership, the Everest 2025 Expedition achieved several historic milestones, including Angmo becoming the world’s first blind woman to summit Mount Everest and Karthikey emerging as the youngest Indian to complete the Seven Summits challenge.
Timeline of Bharath Thammineni’s Nine 8,000-Meter Summits:
- Mount Everest (8,848m) – May 2017
- Manaslu (8,163m) – September 2018
- Lhotse (8,516m) – May 2019
- Annapurna I (8,091m) – March 2022
- Kangchenjunga (8,586m) – April 2022
- Makalu (8,485m) – May 2023
- Shishapangma (8,027m) – October 2024
- Dhaulagiri (8,167m) – April 2025
- Cho Oyu (8,188m) – October 2025
With these nine formidable ascents, Bharath Thammineni has firmly established himself as a trailblazer in Indian mountaineering, carrying the Indian tricolour to some of the world’s most challenging and remote peaks.
