7-year-old Indian youngest to reach Everest base camp

Overcoming obstacles like cold temperatures and a high wind-chill, seven-year-old Aaryan Balaji has recorded his name in Mount Everest history by trekking all the way to the mountain's Southern Base Camp in Nepal situated at an altitude of 5,364 metres.

Young Aaryan, the son of an Indian Navy officer, is the youngest ever in the world to have trekked all the way from Lukla to the Everest Base Camp in Nepal on May 13. He is also the youngest to climb Mt. Kalapattar (5,554 meters) on May 15.

In the process, the seven-year-old defied his age to beat an eight-year-old American's record, displaying his adaptability to the highest standards of physical fitness, mental and moral strength, determination, courage, endurance, a never say die spirit and, above all, perfect teamwork.

Reaching the base camp below Mt. Everest is considered one of the most arduous tasks on earth.

This successful attempt by a small boy, underlines all laudable attributes that are required to be developed among children across the board. Aaryan made the nation proud by unfurling the tricolour at the frontier of adventure activity that challenges the human spirit of courage and survival.

"Hiking to the Everest Base Camp is a unique challenge, and the excitement in doing this as a family could not be spelt. Aaryan had trained hard for this trek for over a month in the Andaman Islands, and we had full confidence in him reaching this goal. He has done us proud, no doubt, but has definitely brought laurels to India in a big way," said Riki, Aaryan's mother who accompanied him along with her husband.

Aaryan set out on this adventurous trip from Port Blair along with his father and mother on April 29 with a goal to trek to the Everest Base Camp and climb Mount Kalapattar.

 Commander Balaji, Aaryan's father, is also an avid adventurer who has been on many successful expeditions in the last decade, including to Mount Everest, South Pole and North Pole.

Thirteen-year-old American Jordan Romero is the youngest person to climb Mount Everest.