Kaamya Karthikeyan, an 18-year-old from Mumbai, has become the youngest Indian and the second-youngest woman globally to ski to South Pole, completing a 115-km expedition in extreme Antarctic conditions.
Key Highlights
- Kaamya skied from 89º South to the Geographic South Pole
- Distance Covered: ~60 Nautical Miles (≈115 km)
- Temperature: as low as −30°C
- Faced gale-force winds, icy terrain, and blizzards
- Pulled her expedition sled carrying full gear independently
- Received official congratulations from the Indian Navy
- Represents resilience, discipline, and high-altitude endurance
About Kaamya Karthikeyan
- Age: 18 years
- From: Mumbai
- Background: Daughter of a naval officer
- Schooling: Navy Children’s School
- Inspiration: British explorer Felicity Aston
- Began mountaineering at age 13
Future Goal- Explorer’s Grand Slam
Kaamya is now working towards completing the Explorer’s Grand Slam, which includes:
- Climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents
- Skiing to:
- North Pole
- South Pole
This places her among the world’s elite explorers.
Major Achievements (Mountaineering & Expeditions)
- Mt. Everest (Nepal side)- 2024
- Youngest Indian & 2nd-youngest female to summit
- Mount Vinson (Antarctica)- 2024
- Denali, North America- 2022 (First non-American youngest ascent)
- Aconcagua, South America- 2020 (Youngest girl to scale)
- Europe’s Mount Elbrus- 2018 (Skied down the summit)
- Completed Seven Summits in record time
Significance of South Pole Expedition
- Demonstrates extreme endurance and mental resilience
- Navigation through:
- Hard ice crystal blizzards
- Treacherous wind-carved ridges
- Difficult skiing and sled-hauling terrain
- Highlights:
- Physical strength
- Psychological toughness
- Strategic expedition planning
Key Facts
- South Pole– located on the Antarctic continent
- Seven Summits– highest mountains on each continent
- Explorer’s Grand Slam– Seven Summits + Skiing to both Poles
- Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar– India’s highest civilian honour for children