In a remarkable feat of endurance and pride, Dr Kshitija Kadam, currently serving as faculty at the Government College of Engineering, Nagpur, successfully conquered Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa, standing at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet). The fifty-five-year-old was part of a six-member Indian team, and notably, the only woman in the group. 6 days on the Marangu route — A journey beyond limits The expedition started via the Marangu Route, one of the oldest and most scenic routes to the summit. While it may appear approachable, the route has only a 50–70% success rate, due to its rapid altitude gain and demanding physical challenges.

 

 

The trek began through the dense and beautiful rainforest, setting a serene tone before the upcoming tests of endurance. The journey began on September 4. After three days, the team progressed through heathlands, alpine deserts, and finally reached Kibo Hut, the base camp. On fourth day September 7, 2025, after 11 hours of relentless climbing, the team reached the Uhuru Peak, the highest point of Kilimanjaro, at 10:30 am on September 8, 2025. “The cold was numbing. The wind was horrible. Every step felt like a battle of mind and body. But we pushed on… for something bigger than ourselves,” Dr Kadam recalled while sharing her journey with ‘The Hitavada’. A 24-hour test of willpower: The challenge didn’t end at the summit By 4 pm, the team had descended back to Kibo Hut, trekking down sandy, dusty slopes under intense fatigue.

 

After a quick lunch, they continued another 12 kilometers on foot, finally reaching Horombo Hut at 10:00 PM. “These 24 hours tested every ounce of our physical and mental strength. But the feeling of triumph at the end was worth every hardship,” said Dr Kadam. Dr Kadam firmly believes that Indian trekkers may not always have the most advanced gear or expensive equipment, but what they have is resilience. “We Indians have a different kind of mental endurance. It’s not in the shoes or jackets — it’s in the mind. That’s what truly gets you to the top,” felt Dr Kadam. Dr Kadam wasn’t just climbing for personal glory. She carried with her a deeper mission — to inspire Indian women to take bold steps, to dream bigger, and to challenge societal boundaries. “I knew if I failed, many women in India might give up before even trying. I had to succeed — for them, for their ‘samman’ (dignity), and to prove that age or gender should never define our limits.” A proud daughter of Maharashtra, Dr Kadam fulfilled a personal dream by standing atop Kilimanjaro wearing a traditional Marathi ‘navvari saree’ and ‘nath’ (nasal ring).

 

“It was on my bucket list — to carry my culture to the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Wearing the traditional dress was my salute to every Marathi woman who carries tradition with strength,” said proud Dr Kshitija Kadam. Dr Kadam feels blessed that she has her biggest mentor as her son Shashwat Kadam who himself is a state level cyclist, marathon runner and trekker. “I express a deep gratitude towards Principal Dr Borkar, Joint Director Dr Daigavane, Director of Technical Education Dr Mohitkar and her accompanying power boosting Indian Team including Panna Lal Sevak (63), Dr Rajendra Rai (50), Vijay Dhanjode (48), Sandeep Chati (45), Vivek Jaiswal (45),” pointed out Dr Kadam.