Chandigarh, April 18: — Gursimrann Singh Janjua, a 34-year-old mountaineer from Punjab, became the first person from the state to summit Mount Annapurna I, a treacherous 8,091-metre peak in Nepal’s Gandaki Province, marking a historic moment in India’s mountaineering record.
He reached the summit on April 7 at 11:05 a.m., climbing as part of an international 11-member team that included mountaineers from India, Vietnam, the US, Japan, the UK, and South Africa. Only four climbers reached the top — Gursimrann, two from Haryana, and one from South Africa.
“It’s one of the most technically challenging climbs in the world,” he said, reflecting on the harsh weather, freezing temperatures, a narrow summit window, and limited vegetarian food. “Every expedition comes with its share of hurdles. What truly matters is believing in yourself and trusting the divine energy.”
Despite the feat, Gursimrann said he received no financial aid or official backing from the Punjab Government. He spent three years raising funds independently for the expedition, while some of his teammates climbed with full corporate sponsorship and state support. The Haryana Government, he noted, announced Rs 5 lakh awards and official recognition for its successful climbers shortly after the summit.
“I hope to meet Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and urge him to develop a state policy to support mountaineers. Adventure sports need recognition and investment,” Gursimrann said, adding that he also appeals to corporate sponsors to support India’s adventure sports and climbing talent.
Alongside mountaineering, Gursimrann is a certified paraglider, paramotor pilot, and first-aid responder. He completed advanced training at the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) in Arunachal Pradesh and the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) in Uttarkashi. He currently works as an IT Project Manager at Ernst & Young (EY) and is an advocate for sustainable and environmentally responsible climbing.
His past achievements include leading an international expedition to Mount Ama Dablam (6,814 metres) and scaling peaks such as KY1, KY2 in Ladakh and DKD 2 in the Gangotri region.
Dedicating his Annapurna summit to Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal’s historic 1950 ascent of the same peak, Gursimrann noted, “In India, mountains are often viewed as holiday spots, but they’re also arenas for discipline, resilience and emergency preparedness. With the right support, we can achieve far more — in sport and in disaster response.”
