Bengaluru / Kathmandu:
In a feat that redefines age and endurance, Acharya Raghu, a 63-year-old yogi and martial arts practitioner from Bangalore, has accomplished a record-setting trek in the Himalayas, inspiring people across generations.
Acharya Raghu successfully completed a grueling 40-kilometer climb from Namche Bazaar to Gorakhshep — a key point near Everest Base Camp — in just 15 hours and 22 minutes. The climb, undertaken on November 18–19, 2024, was marked by extreme night-time temperatures ranging from -10°C to -24°C. The high-altitude trek began at 11:00 PM on November 18 and concluded by 2:22 PM the following day.
He was accompanied by Indian Air Force veteran Santosh Kumar and fellow adventurers Rupesh Reddy and Gagan Gowda. The achievement was recognized by the India Book of Records under the category:
“Maximum Distance Covered in EBC Route within 24 Hours by a Sexagenarian.”
Demonstrating further resilience, the very next day, Acharya Raghu undertook a symbolic physical challenge at Thukla Pass (above 16,000 ft) to pay homage to the 330 mountaineers who lost their lives on Mt. Everest. At this high-altitude location, where oxygen levels drop to 55%, he performed 333 Indian Burpees — also referred to as Yaksha Pranamas — a physically intense sequence combining elements of squats, wrestler push-ups, forward lunges, and jumps, similar to Surya Namaskars but performed at rapid, anaerobic pace.
This physically demanding ritual drove the heart rate to 150–180 bpm and was sustained for over 35 minutes — a performance widely considered impossible at such elevations. This act too has been officially recognized by the India Book of Records as:
“Most Burpees Performed at High Altitude (Above 16,000 ft) by a Sexagenarian.”
Acharya Raghu’s message is clear: fitness is not a luxury but a necessity, regardless of age. Through his efforts, he is actively promoting a health and wellness initiative called “Mountains for Health”, advocating the integration of mountain training, trekking, and trail running as holistic approaches to address modern health concerns.
The announcement of these achievements was made during a press conference held at the Press Club of Bangalore, by Dr. M.R. Seetharam, MLC, Vice Chairman of GEF, Director of MSRIT, and President of ASAI.
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