Mountaineer Bhukya Yashwanth Naik, 19, reached the Mount Everest Base Camp (EBC), also known as the South Base Camp, in Nepal at an altitude of 5,364 metres.
He returned to the camp in Lukla in Nepal on Sunday and was immediately praised by Director General of Police Anjani Kumar and other officials across the country.
He now plans to climb Mount Everest and Mount K2, which is the second-highest peak and has not been climbed by any Indian so far.
The young mountaineer from Maripeda in Mahbubabad had earlier climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in South Africa, Mount Yunem in Himachal Pradesh and Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Russia and Europe.
During his adventure, he also got his Intermediate examination results in which he scored 850 marks.
Bhukya Yashwanth said that this was one of the toughest climbs he has undertaken so far.
“I have earlier climbed Mount Elbrus in minus 22 degrees Celsius, but I did not find it as tough as climbing Mount Everest even though the temperature was only minus 12 degrees Celsius. On Saturday, seven people had died. So I stopped climbing the peak. Regardless of hardships, the moment I reached EBC I felt that it was worth it. I climbed 17 days, but the five minutes of my success made me forget the pain of all those days,” he said.
Yashwanth started his journey to EBC on May 12 from Lukla in  Nepal and reached EBC on May 19.
Yashwanth hails from a tribal family in Maripeda, and his family is engaged in agriculture. His father is a contract employee in the Electricity department.
“My parents were concerned, but I love adventures and they never stopped me. Fear was never a challenge for me, but finding sponsors to buy the gear and clothing was hard. I approached many for help, but no one believed that I could do it. This feat is a testament to my determination,” said Yashwanth.
The young mountaineer has been climbing heights since the age of 14. His goal is now to climb Mount K2, the second-highest peak in the world located in Pakistan. No Indian has ever climbed it and Yashwanth plans to not only be the first Indian but also the youngest to climb K2.
He said that his dream is to join the military and serve the nation.
