Shradha Gupta targets Everest summit after historic Manaslu climb
Synopsis
A Dubai-based DBS Bank executive who only started climbing after the pandemic, Shradha Gupta summited Manaslu — the world's eighth-highest peak — in under three years of high-altitude mountaineering. She is now on Everest. If she succeeds, it will be one of the fastest amateur-to-eight-thousander progressions in recent Indian climbing history.
Key Takeaways
Shradha Gupta is currently on an active Mount Everest expedition as of May 2025 .
She summited Mount Manaslu ( 8,163 metres ) on 26 September 2025 with guide Tenji Sherpa via Nirmal Purja's Elite Exped team.
Manaslu was her first 8,000-metre summit and the world's eighth-highest peak.
In three years, she also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro , Mount Elbrus , and Aconcagua — three of the Seven Summits .
Gupta is based in Dubai and leads Corporate Business for the Middle East at DBS Bank ; she began climbing only after the COVID-19 pandemic .
Indian mountaineer Shradha Gupta is currently on an active Mount Everest expedition, building on her landmark ascent of Mount Manaslu (8,163 metres) — the world's eighth-highest peak — in September 2025. The Dubai-based finance professional has compressed a decade's worth of climbing milestones into just three years, emerging as one of India's most closely watched high-altitude aspirants.
The Manaslu Summit
Gupta reached the top of Manaslu on 26 September 2025 at 8:06 am, roping in alongside elite guide Tenji Sherpa as part of Nirmal Purja's Elite Exped team. Manaslu sits within the so-called 'death zone' — altitudes above 8,000 metres where oxygen levels drop to levels that can be fatal without supplemental support — making it one of the most technically demanding of the legendary 14 eight-thousanders.
The successful ascent was Gupta's first 8,000-metre summit and, according to reports, firmly established her among the emerging generation of Indian endurance mountaineers.
A Rapid Rise from Trekker to High-Altitude Climber
What makes Gupta's trajectory particularly striking is its pace. She took up high-altitude climbing only after the COVID-19 pandemic, rediscovering a passion for hiking while based in the UAE. Within three years, she had summited three of the Seven Summits — Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus, and Aconcagua — and completed the Everest Base Camp trek, before graduating to an 8,000-metre peak.
Notably, this is a progression that typically takes most serious mountaineers the better part of a decade. Gupta's story is frequently cited as an example of what structured late-start climbing, combined with elite expedition support, can achieve.
Who Shradha Gupta Is
By profession, Gupta leads Corporate Business for the Middle East at DBS Bank, one of Asia's largest lenders. She is based in Dubai and, by her own account, began serious climbing only after the pandemic prompted a reassessment of personal goals. Her dual identity — finance executive and high-altitude mountaineer — has drawn attention both within the climbing community and among working professionals inspired by her journey.
The Everest Attempt
Gupta is now on the slopes of Mount Everest (8,848.86 metres), the world's highest peak, as part of the 2025 spring climbing season. If successful, the summit would mark her second 8,000-metre ascent and, potentially, a significant step toward a broader high-altitude programme. The outcome of the expedition was not confirmed at the time of reporting.
Her attempt comes during a season when Everest's southern and northern routes are both active, with hundreds of climbers from across the world on the mountain. For Gupta, the stakes are both personal and symbolic — a test of whether the momentum built on Manaslu can carry to the top of the world.
Point of View
Train for decades, and dedicate their lives to the mountains. A pandemic-era restart, three Seven Summits peaks, and an 8,000-metre summit in 36 months is an unusually compressed arc. The more substantive question, however, is whether the growing trend of well-resourced professionals accessing elite expedition infrastructure — Nirmal Purja's team charges premium rates for a reason — is broadening Indian mountaineering or simply making the summit more purchasable. Gupta's determination is not in doubt; what the Everest outcome will reveal is whether the Manaslu ascent was a ceiling or a launchpad.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shradha Gupta, the Indian mountaineer?
Shradha Gupta is a Dubai-based finance executive who leads Corporate Business for the Middle East at DBS Bank. She began high-altitude climbing after the COVID-19 pandemic and has since summited three of the Seven Summits and Mount Manaslu, the world's eighth-highest peak, in under three years.
When did Shradha Gupta summit Mount Manaslu?
Shradha Gupta reached the summit of Mount Manaslu (8,163 metres) on 26 September 2025 at 8:06 am, alongside elite guide Tenji Sherpa as part of Nirmal Purja's Elite Exped team.
What is Mount Manaslu and why is it significant?
Mount Manaslu, at 8,163 metres, is the world's eighth-highest mountain and one of the 14 peaks above 8,000 metres. It sits in the 'death zone' where oxygen levels are critically low, making it one of the most demanding climbs on Earth. For Gupta, it was her first 8,000-metre summit.
Is Shradha Gupta currently on Everest?
Yes, as of May 2025, Shradha Gupta is on an active Mount Everest expedition. A successful summit would mark her second 8,000-metre ascent. The outcome had not been confirmed at the time of reporting.
Which peaks has Shradha Gupta climbed so far?
Gupta has summited Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus, and Aconcagua — three of the Seven Summits — as well as Mount Manaslu (8,163 metres). She has also completed the Everest Base Camp trek. All of this was achieved within three years of beginning serious high-altitude climbing.
