68-YO Bengaluru Woman Completes 49 Treks, Including Everest Base Camp

Pushpa Prakash was 65 when she laced up her trekking shoes for the very first time.

It wasn’t a long or famous trail — just a short one she took with her daughter. But something shifted that day. The air was crisp, her pace steady, and for the first time in years, she felt a kind of freedom she hadn’t known she was missing.

“I am someone who would never let any opportunity slip from my hand,” the Bengaluru resident says.

That instinct to embrace the unknown, to say yes, shaped what came next.

In the three years since, Pushpa — now 68 — has gone on 49 treks across India, including seven in the Himalayas. She’s also skydived in New Zealand, scuba-dived at the Great Barrier Reef, taken the highest bungee jump in South Africa, and swung over gorges in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

What makes it all the more inspiring is that Pushpa wasn’t always this adventurous. It was only in her 50s that she began carving out this life — slowly, steadily, choosing one trek, one challenge, one leap at a time.

‘I wanted to live life fully’

Pushpa's urge to explore began in her early 50s. “When I look back at my life, since childhood, I never gave up on anything despite a lot of discouragement. In every tough situation, I learnt something or the other. That’s why today I have so much willpower,” she shares.

By the time she reached her 50s, that quiet resolve had grown into a hunger for experience. “I wanted to live life fully and use every opportunity to grow,” she says.

Most people her age settle into routines, choosing comfort over risk. But Pushpa wanted something different. She went skydiving in New Zealand, walked on glaciers there too, took the highest bungee jump in South Africa, the highest tower jump in Macau, and even swung over gorges in Zimbabwe and Zambia — ticking off one daring feat after another. It wasn’t about proving anything to anyone; it was simply her way of seeing age as an invitation, not a limitation.

‘My daughter became my motivation’

Pushpa credits much of her trekking journey to her daughter, Suma Narasa Prakash. It started with quiet morning walks through wooded trails, just the two of them — mother and daughter — matching each other’s pace in comfortable silence. Those small, unassuming outings became the first steps towards something far bigger than either of them imagined.

“When she saw me do the small treks with grace, she suggested I could try the higher altitude treks too,” Pushpa shares with a smile.

Since then, Pushpa has scaled the Everest Base Camp at 18,000 feet and trekked across trails like Dhimanakindi, Kanakapura, and Vananthimari near Bengaluru.

On most treks now, Pushpa and Suma walk side by side. The trails have become their shared language, one that has brought them even closer with each climb.

‘My discipline is the reason I can trek at 68’

Pushpa doesn’t hit the gym or follow any fancy routines. She simply sticks to a way of living that’s steady, mindful, and deeply rooted in discipline — something that’s shaped every step she has taken, on the trail and off it.

“I don’t have any BP or diabetes issues, all thanks to the simple and healthy lifestyle that I have been following for many years now,” she says.

Her daughter offers more details. “She gets up during what we call the Brahma Muhurta (3:15 to 5:30 am). She starts with mudra meditation, does a few asanas, and activates her pressure points for overall wellness.”

Every morning, Pushpa feeds the birds in her garden before getting started on the rest of her day. She does all her household chores herself, takes on counselling appointments, volunteers her time, and makes space for prayer. Her meals are simple but thoughtfully put together: vegetables, greens, fruits, a mix of seeds, a clove of garlic, and rice — three times a day, without fail. Junk food doesn’t feature on her plate, and by 10:30 every night, she’s fast asleep, resting for whatever tomorrow brings.

“My mental wellbeing and the disciplined life I lead are the two main reasons I am able to undertake treks and adventure sports at this age,” she says.

She doesn’t train much. She simply lives well.

Pushpa doesn’t follow a fitness routine in the conventional sense. There are no morning walks or gym visits, no strict training schedules or trackers. And yet, at 68, she’s climbing Himalayan trails with the kind of stamina that surprises even seasoned trekkers. She just keeps moving, staying active from the moment she wakes up to the time she winds down. That, her daughter Suma says, is the secret.

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“When I watch her trek, I never see her stop to rest or say she’s tired. She just keeps going. She doesn’t give up — ever. She is a gifted person,” Suma says.

Fellow trekkers and guides are often taken aback by her quiet strength. “She listens, follows instructions to the T, and moves through tough trails with so much grace,” Suma adds.

In 2024, that spirit was recognised when Pushpa was named ‘Trekker of the Year’ by VLAW (Vyshya Limelight Awards for Women), an organisation honouring women who push boundaries.

The award was a nod to her refusal to slow down. If you were looking for a sign to start something, treat Pushpa's story as a reminder: the most powerful journeys begin when most think it’s time to stop.

Edited by Khushi Arora