Expeditions
by Krushnaa Patil
Mountaineering
Krushnaa Patil’s mountaineering journey has been shaped by years of learning how to move through extreme landscapes with care, preparation, and respect. Her time in the mountains involved sustained training, acclimatisation, and developing the judgement needed to make decisions in rapidly changing conditions.
In 2009, she became the youngest Indian to summit Mount Everest, a defining moment that marked the beginning of sustained high-altitude climbing across continents. Over the years, she went on to become the first Indian woman to scale the highest peaks of Antarctica, South America, and Europe, navigating isolation, severe weather, and physical limits.
For Krushnaa, mountaineering has never been about chasing summits alone. It is a long-term relationship with the mountains, shaped by patience, responsibility, and the ability to know when to move forward and when to turn back.
Journey till now…
June, 2008
Mt. Draupadi Ka Danda I
5,670 m
Dingad Valley, India
Sept, 2008
Mt. Satopanth
7,075 m
Garwhal Himalaya, India
May, 2009
Mt. Everest
8,848 m
Nepal, Asia
Oct, 2009
Mt. Kilimanjaro
5,895 m
Kenya, Africa
Dec, 2009
Mt. Vinson Massif
4,892 m
Antarctica
Jan, 2010
Mt. Aconcagua/ Andes
6,952 m
South America, Argentina
March, 2010
Mt. Kosciuszko
2,228 m
Australia
April, 2010
Mt. Elbrus
5,642m
Russia, Europe
May, 2010
Mt. McKinley
5,750 m
North America, USA
May 2013-14
Mt. Makalu
8,200 m
Nepal,Asia
Oct, 2012
Mt. Draupadi Ka Danda II
5,500 m
Dingad Valley, India
Seven Summits attempt: Successfully completed six summits.
The Denali climb was turned back just 300 meters from the summit following a risk assessment.
Featured Articles
Krushnaa Patil is the first Indian woman to climb Mount Vinson Massif in Antarctica…
Published On Sep 17, 2011
Published On Apr 15, 2017
Published On Nov 4, 2015
Access Water Expeditions
Access Water Expeditions is a powerful, multi-continent initiative dedicated to raising awareness about water accessibility, conservation, and cultural connections through exploration-led storytelling.
Beginning with a source-to-sea journey along the Ganga River in 2015, the expedition grew into a global, all-women movement. From the Yellow River to the Mississippi River, each journey blends exploration with education and outreach. The 2025 expedition in New Zealand further expands this mission, incorporating Māori perspectives while continuing to advocate for water conservation through dialogue and community engagement.
2025
New Zealand
Access to water expedition
Participated in an international access-to-water expedition with a diverse, all-women team representing multiple countries, focusing on Maori culture, environment, and water issues, continuing this multi-continent effort to promote water conservation and education.
Read Article +
2017
Mississippi, USA
River Expedition
Covered 200 km along the Mississippi River as part of an access-to-water expedition. Served as Guest Lecturer at St. Catherine University, conducting a week-long lecture series across multiple classes, integrating mountaineering, exploration, and access-to-water themes.
Read Article +
2016
China
Access to water expedition
Completed a 500 km expedition along the Yellow River with the same all-women team. Delivered talks at China University and engaged with academic audiences, including interactions with Ernst & Young (EY).
Read Article +
2015
India, Asia
Source to sea : Ganga Expedition
Undertook a 2.5-month-long source-to-sea expedition along the River Ganga, traveling from Gomukh to Ganga Sagar as part of a sustainability and access-to-water initiative. Along the route, Krushnaa engaged in community outreach and social work, delivering talks at 20+ government schools whenever the expedition paused. After the journey, she was invited to Uttarakhand to feature on the television show Soul of India by ZEE Entertainment Enterprises, highlighting the expedition and its environmental significance.
Read Article +
Awards & Recognitions
2009
- Rajiv Gandhi Award
- Kesari Lokmanya Tilak Felicitation
- Hirkani Puraskar
- Young Achiever – Citadel Award
- Young Achiever – Mitcom Award
- Jhansi Ki Rani Award
- Indira Gandhi Puraskar
2010
- Maharashtra Ratna
- Rotary International Award
- GR8 Women’s Award
- Young Indian Leaders – CNN-IBN
- Today’s Youth Asia Award (Nepal)
2015
- P. N. Gadgil Award – Maharashtra Achiever
2016
- Mayor Award
Expeditions
by Krushnaa Patil
Mountaineering
Krushnaa Patil’s mountaineering journey has been shaped by years of learning how to move through extreme landscapes with care, preparation, and respect. Her time in the mountains involved sustained training, acclimatisation, and developing the judgement needed to make decisions in rapidly changing conditions.
In 2009, she became the youngest Indian to summit Mount Everest, a defining moment that marked the beginning of sustained high-altitude climbing across continents. Over the years, she went on to become the first Indian woman to scale the highest peaks of Antarctica, South America, and Europe, navigating isolation, severe weather, and physical limits.
For Krushnaa, mountaineering has never been about chasing summits alone. It is a long-term relationship with the mountains, shaped by patience, responsibility, and the ability to know when to move forward and when to turn back.
Journey till now…
June, 2008
Mt. Draupadi
Ka Danda I
5,670 m
Dingad Valley, India
Sept, 2008
Mt. Satopanth
7,075 m
Garwhal Himalaya, India
May, 2009
Mt. Everest
8,848 m
Nepal, Asia
Oct, 2009
Mt. Kilimanjaro
5,895 m
Kenya, Africa
Dec, 2009
Mt. Vinson
Massif
4,892 m
Antarctica
Jan, 2010
Mt. Aconcagua
/Andes
6,952 m
South America, Argentina
March, 2010
Mt. Kosciuszko
2,228 m
Australia
April, 2010
Mt. Elbrus
5,642m
Russia, Europe
May, 2010
Mt. McKinley
5,750 m
North America, USA
May 2013-14
Mt. Makalu
8,200 m
Nepal,Asia
Oct, 2012
Mt. Draupadi Ka Danda II
5,500 m
Dingad Valley, India
Seven Summits attempt: Successfully completed six summits.
The Denali climb was turned back just 300 meters from the summit following a risk assessment.
Featured Articles
Krushnaa Patil is the first Indian woman to climb Mount Vinson Massif in Antarctica…
Published On Sep 17, 2011
Access Water Expeditions
Access Water Expeditions is a powerful, multi-continent initiative dedicated to raising awareness about water accessibility, conservation, and cultural connections through exploration-led storytelling.
Beginning with a source-to-sea journey along the Ganga River in 2015, the expedition grew into a global, all-women movement. From the Yellow River to the Mississippi River, each journey blends exploration with education and outreach. The 2025 expedition in New Zealand further expands this mission, incorporating Māori perspectives while continuing to advocate for water conservation through dialogue and community engagement.
2025
New Zealand
Access to water expedition
Participated in an international access-to-water expedition with a diverse, all-women team representing multiple countries, focusing on Maori culture, environment, and water issues, continuing this multi-continent effort to promote water conservation and education.
Read Article +
2017
Mississippi, USA
River Expedition
Covered 200 km along the Mississippi River as part of an access-to-water expedition. Served as Guest Lecturer at St. Catherine University, conducting a week-long lecture series across multiple classes, integrating mountaineering, exploration, and access-to-water themes.
Read Article +
2016
China
Access to water expedition
Completed a 500 km expedition along the Yellow River with the same all-women team. Delivered talks at China University and engaged with academic audiences, including interactions with Ernst & Young (EY).
Read Article +
2015
India, Asia
Source to sea : Ganga Expedition
Undertook a 2.5-month-long source-to-sea expedition along the River Ganga, traveling from Gomukh to Ganga Sagar as part of a sustainability and access-to-water initiative. Along the route, Krushnaa engaged in community outreach and social work, delivering talks at 20+ government schools whenever the expedition paused. After the journey, she was invited to Uttarakhand to feature on the television show Soul of India by ZEE Entertainment Enterprises, highlighting the expedition and its environmental significance.
Read Article +
Awards & Recognitions
2009
- Rajiv Gandhi Award
- Kesari Lokmanya Tilak Felicitation
- Hirkani Puraskar
- Young Achiever – Citadel Award
- Young Achiever – Mitcom Award
- Jhansi Ki Rani Award
- Indira Gandhi Puraskar
2010
- Maharashtra Ratna
- Rotary International Award
- GR8 Women’s Award
- Young Indian Leaders – CNN-IBN
- Today’s Youth Asia Award (Nepal)
2015
- P. N. Gadgil Award – Maharashtra Achiever
2016
- Mayor Award