Eighteen-year-old Kaamya Karthikeyan has made history by becoming the youngest Indian and the second-youngest woman globally to ski to the South Pole. This incredible achievement highlights her adventurous spirit and places her among India's most notable young adventurers.
Kaamya reached the South Pole on December 27, 2025, after an intense journey of nearly 115 kilometers across the harsh landscapes of Antarctica. She faced extreme challenges, including temperatures plunging to minus 30 degrees Celsius, strong gale-force winds, and blinding whiteout conditions. Pulling a sled with her expedition gear, she completed the entire trek on foot, showcasing remarkable physical endurance and mental strength.
Born to Commander S Karthikeyan, an officer in the Indian Navy, and Lavanya Karthikeyan, an early childhood educator, Kaamya has been nurtured in an environment that values discipline and outdoor activities. An alumna of Navy Children School, she has been encouraged to pursue adventurous endeavors from a young age. The Indian Navy publicly recognized her achievement, emphasizing the significance of her South Pole expedition.
Before she turned 18, Kaamya compiled an impressive record in climbing. In 2024, at just 17 years old, she successfully completed the Seven Summits Challenge, which involves reaching the highest peak on each continent. Her climbs included famous mountains such as Mount Everest, Aconcagua, and Kilimanjaro, among others. Notably, she became the youngest Indian and the second-youngest woman worldwide to summit Mount Everest from the Nepal side.
Earlier in her adventure career, she made history at age 15 by summiting Mount Aconcagua, becoming the youngest girl to reach its peak, and at 16, she climbed Mount Elbrus while also completing a ski descent—an extraordinary feat for someone her age.
Kaamya is currently pursuing the final phase of the Explorer’s Grand Slam, a prestigious adventure goal that combines climbing the Seven Summits with skiing to both the South Pole and the North Pole. With her successful expedition to the South Pole, the only challenge remaining is to conquer the North Pole, potentially making her the first in the world to achieve this remarkable milestone in exploration.
Q1. What age did Kaamya Karthikeyan ski to the South Pole?
Answer: Kaamya Karthikeyan skied to the South Pole at the age of 18, making her the youngest Indian to achieve this feat.
Q2. What is the Seven Summits Challenge?
Answer: The Seven Summits Challenge involves climbing the highest peaks on each of the seven continents, a significant achievement in the mountaineering community.
Q3. Who is Kaamya Karthikeyan's father?
Answer: Kaamya's father is Commander S Karthikeyan, an officer in the Indian Navy, who has influenced her adventurous spirit and discipline.
Q4. What is the Explorer's Grand Slam?
Answer: The Explorer's Grand Slam is an adventurous goal that combines climbing the Seven Summits and skiing to both the North and South Poles.
Q5. How did Kaamya prepare for her Antarctic expedition?
Answer: Kaamya prepared for her Antarctic expedition through rigorous training that focused on physical endurance, mental resilience, and survival skills in extreme conditions.
Question 1: Who is the youngest Indian to ski to the South Pole?
A) Kamini Kaushal
B) Kaamya Karthikeyan
C) Bachendri Pal
D) Arunima Sinha
Correct Answer: B
Question 2: What challenge did Kaamya Karthikeyan complete before skiing to the South Pole?
A) Mount Everest ascent
B) The Seven Summits Challenge
C) North Pole expedition
D) Mountaineering training
Correct Answer: B
Question 3: What is the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar?
A) A military honor
B) An award for children
C) A mountaineering award
D) A government scholarship
Correct Answer: B
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