KATHMANDU, April 14: Eight-year-old Arjun Dhaval Desai and six-year-old Shree Dhaval Desai -- children of Dhaval Bhupendra Desai and Amee Dhaval Desai -- successfully completed their ascent to the base camp (5,364m) of Mt Everest on April 10.
Although the trip organizing company (Amigo Treks and Expedition Pvt. Ltd.) has arranged many such journeys for adult trekking enthusiasts, it was the first time it had planned a trek for a group including such young children. Led by Khem Regmi, the group also included seven adults.
The children, accompanied by their parents, first flew to Lukla from Kathmandu and trekked to the base camp. After reaching the base camp, they flew back to Kathmandu on a chopper the same day.
It is not the first time children have reached the base camp. Five-year-old Kandarp Sharma and eight-year-old Ritvika from Gwalior of India’s Madhya Pradesh were the first to set the record of the youngest trekkers to the base camp.
Born in Pennsylvania, the US, the kids have set the record of being the youngest American nationals to ascent the base camp.