Rohtash Khileri

Rohtash Khileri
Born	14 May 1996 (age 25) Malapur, Haryana, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Indian Mountaineer
Alma Mater	Monika Sr. Secondary School , Jammu Kashmir's Jawahar Institute
Religion	Hinduism
Occupation	Indian Mountaineer
First ascent	R-enok Peak while training
Major ascents	Mount Kilimanjaro- Stayed for 24 hours
Website	https://www.rohtashkhileri.com

Rohtash Khileri, also known as Rohtash Bishnoi, is an inspiring Indian mountaineer, explorer, and sports enthusiast hailing from a small village in Haryana. Born on May 14, 1996, he has embarked on a remarkable journey of conquering the world's highest peaks and pushing the boundaries of human endurance. In 2018, Rohtash Khileri achieved an extraordinary feat by becoming the first Indian to successfully reach the summit of Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth. His achievement not only showcased his exceptional mountaineering skills but also made him a proud representative of India on the world stage. Standing atop the mighty Everest, he symbolized the dreams and aspirations of countless mountaineers across the globe. Rohtash's passion for adventure and exploration led him to undertake incredible challenges beyond Everest. He set another remarkable record by being the first person to spend 24 hours on Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. His determination and unwavering spirit allowed him to embrace the extreme conditions of the mountain and surpass previous achievements. With his sights set on a grand goal, Rohtash Khileri aspires to climb mountains on all seven continents. Within a span of just five months, he accomplished an impressive milestone by completing the first three continents—Asia, Europe, and Africa. This rapid progression demonstrates his exceptional physical and mental strength, as well as his unwavering dedication to his mountaineering pursuits.

Early life

Rohtash Khileri, the son of Subhash Chander Bishnoi and Bansi Devi, was born in the small town of Mallapur in Haryana on May 14, 1996. He comes from a farmer's family with not so good financial conditions. He attended Monika Sr. Secondary School in Jakhod Khera, Haryana, for his elementary schooling which was 21 km away from his village. He received his basic mountaineering instruction at Jammu Kashmir's Jawahar Institute.

On Children's Day, the school held a sports competition, and Rohtash placed first in the 100m running race, earning him a trophy from the principal. This shifted his perspective, and he resolved to win more accolades for his country. But he had no notion what field he should pursue, and he didn't have anyone to advise him. He was, nonetheless, quite diligent and enthusiastic.

Rohtash learned in 2009 that free training is available at Mahabir Stadium in Hisar. After that, he began to take the train from Jakhod Khera Railway Station to the stadium every day after school. The train ticket to Hisar was then 3Rs, which Rohtash could not afford. His parents did not encourage him in this because they wanted him to focus on his studies and finish school. Despite this, Rohtash was able to gain money by playing sports with his pals, such as cricket.

Interests Before Mountaineering

Rohtash was a highly athletic kid. Rohtash initially chose the wrestling game and practised it for 2-3 hours per day. He used to get home from practice around 11 p.m. every day. Rohtash managed to keep up his journey to Hisar Mahavir stadium for 3-4 years via rail, bus, and even bicycle. He performed some wrestling, army running and boxing. He even tried his hand at martial arts like Taekwondo on occasion.

Rohtash was highly inspired by Vidyut Jamawal starrer, Commando. This movie was not only released in 2013 in theatres but also released a new career path for Rohtash. He decided to become an Army officer and fight for his country. He started training himself for the Indian Army. He tried his luck at various camps but got declined for some reason or the other. He then decided to become the best version of himself. He wanted to become so fit that jobs were offered to him in a plethora instead of him running after jobs. In 2019, he rejected a job in the defence sector because he wanted no job to come between him and his love for mountains.

Story Behind Choosing Mountaineering

When he travelled to Kathmandu for the first time in January 2014 to compete in a Martial Arts Championship for Taekwondo, he witnessed the highest snowy mountains for the first time in his life on the way there. He couldn't stop staring at them since he was so taken aback. When he was crossing the Sunauli border via local transit to get to Kathmandu, he questioned a Nepali sitting next to him, "Brother, where are you going?" "Does Nepal have any higher mountains?" Yes, there is one highest peak, Sagarmatha, also known as Mount Everest, he said.

He was so mesmerised and blinded by the love of mountains at that first look that he never opened his eyes to anything else after that. He felt like Mother Nature is calling him and this is his destiny. All just by that first peak peek. He then spent the following three years doing research on Mount Everest, mountaineering and institutes to get the training. He had a clear vision and spent these years getting to know everything he could for his journey in this career path.

Mountaineering Training

Now Rohtash knew how to get to his goal, but it was a difficult path to take. It is claimed that only those who trust in themselves and their abilities attain their objectives. Rohtash had always believed in his own ability and dedication. When he returned to his homeland, he began looking for routes that would lead him to his destination.

On April 24, 2017, his classmates Rohit and Vikram informed him of the mountaineering training centre for Mount Everest. He couldn't sleep that night because he had taken the first step toward his dream. He spent the entire night researching the institute, and the next day, on April 25, 2017, he mailed his application for the basic mountaineering training to the Jawahar Institute in Jammu Kashmir. He began packing for his trip to the institute the next day. Rohtash left for Jammu Kashmir by train on April 26th, 2017 to complete his basic course. He arrived at the mountaineering school in Pahalgam village, Jammu Kashmir, on April 29, 2017.

Problems Faced

He was dismissed from the institute the next day, on April 30th. He was informed that only his application has been completed thus far and that the admission process has not yet begun. Because he has already waited a year for admittance, he will have to wait another year or two. After hearing this, he felt terrible.

On that day, Rohtash sat in the evening on a stone on the riverbank close to the institute and began to cry. He made the decision that if he did not get into the institute, he would not return home, but rather would leap into the river and die. However, it is claimed that if a person is motivated to do something, the entire universe will rally behind him.

Final Admission

After a while, Indian Army commandos Ashok Shukal, an inspector at the institute, and Vikas Rana, Haryana's lone skier, arrived. They worked together to get Rohtash accepted into the institute. They are still regarded as mentors by the Rohtash today. Rohtash stayed here from May to September after being admitted to complete the basic climbing course. Here, he completed his basic training. His stamina began to improve as he ran 10 to 15 kilometres every day, climbed big trees, climbed walls, did yoga, and did other things.

Following that, Rohtash did not look back and completed his second course in Darjeeling from September to October. This was a more extensive course that finally started his journey as an Indian Mountaineer.

Expedetions

Ascents above 8,000m

Mt. Everest

Date: 16 May 2018. Days: 42 Days Altitude: 8848

Ascents above 5,000m

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Date: 23 July 2018. Days: 5 Days Altitude: 5898

Mt. Elbrus

Date: 4 September 2018. Days: 7 Days Altitude: 5642

Mount Friendship Peak

Date: 9 October 2020. Days: 4 Days Altitude: 5286

R-enok Peak

Date: 4 October 2017. Days: 1 Day Climbing Altitude: 5200

Mt. Elbrus

Date: 1 February 2020. Days: 7 Days Altitude: 5200

Ascents above 4,000m

Mount Moon Peak

Date: 1 November 2020. Days: 4 Days Altitude: 4650

Mount Kilimanjaro

Date: 21 March 2020. Days: 6 Days Altitude: 4650

Climbs

Mt. Everest

Rohtash was ecstatic when the letter from the organisation climbing Mount Everest arrived from Nepal on November 22, 2017. In his letter, they stated that he must begin climbing Mount Everest on April 5, 2018, and that he must pay the corporation 25,00,000 rupees. Rohtash became agitated as a result of this.

Financial Problems

It was difficult for Rohtash to manage such a large sum. He began seeking a private one for this purpose, but despite his best efforts, he became irritated. He knew his dream would be difficult to realise, yet he persisted. He then turned to his neighbours and friends for help, but he was unable to raise the entire sum.

He was running out of time now. On April 1, 2018, he was due to arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal. He was having a lot of trouble because he didn't have enough money. He was all by himself. Then he dared to tell his father, who flatly refused, claiming that he lacked the financial means and advising Rohtash to try again next year or later.

Father to the Rescue

Rohtash lingered in the park where his father had refused to give him the money. His father then called and told him to start getting ready because he would be in charge of the finances. His father saw his passion for mountaineering and the fire that burned within him. For the mortgage, he chose to sell his land. Rohtash's father secured the funds and began making plans to travel to Nepal. With his parents' consent, he left home on March 29, 2018, to climb Mount Everest. The tricolour flag was given to him. He travelled from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport to Kathmandu on April 1, 2018.

Journey

When Rohtash met Shivangi Pathak, she was too young and frail to climb Everest. Shivangi's initial sponsoring company also turned down her offer at the last minute. As a result, Rohtash allowed her to accompany him. Then came the moment when they needed to fly out of Kathmandu to conclude their tour. They arrived at Lukla Airport, the world's most perilous airport, on April 6, 2018, and climbed Mount Everest on April 7, 2018.

They used to get up every day and, after gearing up for breakfast, climb 10 to 12 kilometres up the hill throughout the day and spend the night at the resting place. On 14 April 2018, the campground on the coast of Mount Everest, which is at the height of 5364 metres, was reached after climbing the hills. On this day, he saw Mount Everest for the first time and worshipped Sagarmatha.

After a few days in this camp, the moment had arrived for us to await our fate excitedly. They ascended Mount Everest in the severe cold on May 11, 2018, at 2:00 p.m., with snowfall. They were at camp number two, at an altitude of 6400 metres, with the goal of reaching the top of Mt. Everest on May 14th. They were relishing the snow-covered peaks and heading up towards the summit when the sun rose after a few hours of walking. They were confronted with a big Avalanche there.

On the morning of May 12th, 2018, they awoke to see the sun ripping the clouds away and a slow wind with snowfall, but they had to approach camp number three under any circumstances. They had a difficult time crossing the Kumbu ice wall. They were able to get to camp 2 till 5:00 p.m. on that day. That day, his guide declined to accompany them. His health improved after transferring to the second camp, but their companion was not feeling well due to the high altitude, so they made a new plan to summit the mountain on May 16th.

They came to the moment where they were running out of oxygen and had to use breathing masks to keep climbing. After they began climbing, a snowstorm attempted to obstruct their progress, and they became trapped. They arrived at Camp No. 3 around 4:30 p.m. His birthday was May 14. They cooked Maggi and ate chocolate dried fruit to celebrate their birthday. They slept early with an oxygen mask because they had to get up early the next morning and try to climb again to reach Camp No. 4. On May 16, they ascended all night and all day to reach Hilary Step. The girl accompanying them was being brought back since she had health problems and didn't have any money.

On May 16, 2018, they reached the summit of Mt. Everest at 8:21 a.m. They arrived at the summit of Mount Everest and waved the flag of our country, the banner of the Guru Jambheshwar God of the Bishnoi community. They were only five climbers in total, three of whom were their guides. They did everything they could to help Rohtash achieve his dream.

Success is a combination of luck and practice. Now their dream had come true, but they still had to find the right safe and return. They began descending from the summit of Everest at 9:00 p.m. when they were returning from the peak of Mount Everest. Shivangi was exhausted and tired because she didn't get enough oxygen. Her oxygen supply had run out. Due to a shortage of oxygen, Shivangi collapsed. Rohtash then selflessly gave her his oxygen to save her life, despite the fact that he was running low on oxygen. Rohtash’s eyes were watering. He had a lot of difficulties breathing too. When they reached Camp 4, they got fresh oxygen cylinders and medical care.

Khileri and his team arrived at Mount Everest Base Camp on May 19 and met and thanked everyone. They arrived in Kathmandu via chopper on May 22. When Rohtash arrived at his village on May 24, 2018, the entire village, city, and his community at large celebrated his success. His parents and brother were very proud of his achievement.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

On July 23, 2018, Rohtash summited Mount Kilimanjaro. Tanzania, Africa, is home to Mount Kilimanjaro. In his aim of climbing summits on all seven continents, this was the second continent he visited. He climbed the peak in three days, stayed one day, and then descended in four days. It was only a month after he ascended Mt. Everest that he reached the summit. This peak was found to be 5885 metres above sea level. He ascended the peak again on 21 March 2020. This time the altitude traced by him was 4650 metres. This winter ascent took him 6 days to complete.

He is the first individual to stay on Mt. Kilimanjaro for 24 hours and represent his country, therefore setting a new record. He was welcomed heartily after accomplishing his 24 hours stay on the Kilimanjaro peak by his community, friends, and family.

Mt. Elbrus

Mt. Elbrus was climbed twice by Rohtash. The first ascent took place on September 4, 2018. This peak was located at the height of 5642 metres. The second ascent took place on February 1, 2020. This time, he traced an altitude of 5200 metres.

He was the first Indian mountaineer to ascend Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest mountain, during the winter and summer seasons both. He's also the first Indian to climb this summit during the winter season. This summit has yet to be scaled by an Indian mountaineer during the winter season. On February 1st, around 1.29 p.m., Rohtash set this record.

Despite the fact that Rohtash had scaled this mountain previously in the summer season and was attempting to set a world record by remaining here for 24 hours, he showed his humanity owing to the failing state of the guide accompanying him. The mission was postponed because it was deemed more important to save the guide's life than the record. Rohtash may not have set a new world record, but he is the first Indian mountaineer to reach the Mt Elbrus summit during the winter season.

Mt. Elbrus is Europe's highest summit in the Caucasus. In his ambition of climbing summits on all seven continents, this was the third continent. It was just about a month and a half after Mt. Kilimanjaro that he climbed Mt. Elbrus. He accomplished three of his continents in just five months by climbing this. It took him seven days to wrap up this ascend. After becoming the first Indian to summit Mt. Elbrus in the winter, he was welcomed home by his whole village with celebrations.

R-enok Peak

Rohtash reached the summit of R-enok Peak on October 4, 2017. R-enok Peak is located near Darjeeling, India. This summit is located at the height of 5200 metres. He ascended this peak during a 28-day extensive mountaineering training in West Bengal's Darjeeling region. During this course, he ascended this peak practically every day because it only took him a day to complete. Through this course, he was working his way into fulfilling his dreams and his profound love for mountain climbing. Every time he climbed this summit, he learned something new. This was his first climb, and it set him up for a lifetime of accomplishments.

Mount Friendship Peak

On October 9, 2020, Rohtash reached the peak of Mount Friendship Peak. Mt. Friendship Peak is a peak in Himachal Pradesh, India, located in the Kullu district. At 5286 metres, this peak is the highest in the area. It is considered a challenging climb, but Rohtash just took 4 days to complete this ascend. The demanding climb necessitates teamwork, but Rohtash was able to do it without a partner. The expedition is made much more exciting by the continuously changing weather, which adds to its difficulty. One of his solo ascends was the summit of Mount Friendship Peak.

Mount Moon Peak

On November 1, 2020, Rohtash reached the peak of Mount Moon Peak. Moon Peak is located in the Western Himalayan Dhauladhar Ranges. The Moon Peak Expedition will take you to Triund Valley and further. At the height of 4650 metres, this peak is the highest in the area. The winter ascent to the top is considered a difficult climb, but Rohtash completed it in four days. This was going to be his next solo attempt which proved to be a success. After Mount Friendship Peak, he completed this ascent in less than a month.

Role of Bishnoi Community in his Ascents

Bishnoi (sometimes spelt Vishnoi) is a Hindu tribe that lives in India's western Thar Desert and northern states. Guru Jambheshwar gave them a set of 29 principles/commandments to follow. It has been made with all 36 cultures of India combined. They belong to the Vaishnav Sampradayas as a sub-sect. Rohtash is such an engrossed member of the community that he is nicknamed Rohtash Bishnoi.

They must provide sanctuaries for abandoned animals in accordance with rule number 22 in order to prevent them from being slaughtered in abattoirs. They can't eat meat because of rule number 28, and thus they must always be vegetarian. They must not take down green trees in order to conserve the environment, according to regulation number 19. All this provoked Rohtash's love for Nature as a whole. It was the natural beauty of snow-covered tops and big lush trees which awakened the Bishnoi community teachings in Rohtash and made him fall in love with mountains.

For all of the physical work required for mountain climbing, all mountaineers require a good physique and a nourishing diet. When it comes to a well-balanced diet rich in proteins and healthy fats, everyone understands the necessity of non-vegetarian foods. Even on a hike, everyone favours meat and eggs because they provide the required strength and don't spoil after a few days in extreme weather conditions.

Rohtash is a member of the Bishnoi community and thus follows all 29 rules. He is an animal lover and a pure vegetarian. He avoids non-vegetarian food at all costs. Even if he is low on energy on a climb due to an unbalanced diet or needing to train harder to fill up the gaps of nonveg, he wouldn’t even think about eating an animal. This makes it harder for him to climb mountains, but he does it without any hesitation and with a smile of success on his face. Even when his guides urged him to have meat for the nourishment, he proved them all wrong by climbing these peaks and making records without killing any animal.

The Number 29

Rohtash considers the number 29 as his lucky number and there is a lot of evidence to back that up. The mountain which inspired him to be a mountaineer, Mt. Everest, is 29029 feet high. The men who first climbed Mount Everest, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, climbed it on 29 May 1953. Tenzing Norgay, his role model, was born on 29 May 1914. Rohtash Bishnoi joined the mountaineering field on 29 April 2017. His first big achievement was climbing Mt. Everest, 29029 feet high. He left his home on 29 March 2018 to climb Mount Everest. His community, Bishnoi, is a major part of his life. Bishnoi consists of 20+9 (in Hindi) and the letter ‘I’. It loosely translates to 29. The preacher of this community also led down 29 commandments which have been guiding principles for Rohtash Bishnoi. His next immediate vision is to stay on Mt. Everest, 29029 feet, for 24 hours. This was decided by him on 29 December 2018.

Social Media

You can find Rohtash Khileri on almost all the major social media platforms. On his YouTube channel, he posts vlogs on a very regular basis. He showcases his mountain climbing days in these vlogs. He is also very active on his Instagram account. You can see him post some stories about his life, his idol or glimpses of his upcoming life events at least once a week. You can find him on Facebook as well, posting just as much. He inspires thousands of people through his vlogs and posts who look up to him and want to achieve similar things in life. His followers range from teenagers idolizing him to older people being proud of his achievements for the country.

Coach

Rohtash is a coach to a 12-year-old girl, Anu Yadav. He is training her in mountaineering so that, like Rohtash, she might realise her dreams. He took her on his second trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro, but her health deteriorated, and she had to return.

Recognition, Records, and Awards

Rohtash currently has three records under his belt, but he plans to make and break many more. 1. He is the first person who stayed on Mount Kilimanjaro and represented his country's flag for 24 hours. 2. He is the first individual from India who has climbed Mt. Elbrus in both the summer and winter seasons. 3. He is the first mountaineer from Haryana to have achieved so much in this sector.

He was invited to the famous Indian TV reality show "The Kapil Sharma Show" for his achievements and milestones for India. He had been interviewed by various newspapers and news channels.

In 2021, Rohtash was recommended for the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award. The prize is named after Tenzing Norgay, a Nepali-Indian Sherpa mountaineer who, along with Edmund Hillary, was one of the first two highlanders to reach the top of Mount Everest in 1953. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports gives it out every year. But then it was awarded an Army Cadet. He will try again for this award in 2022.

Vision

Rohtash envisions making India proud of his achievements. He wants to climb peaks in all the seven continents of the world. He has already completed three continents of Asia, Europe and Africa.

His next immediate vision is to stay on Mt. Everest peak for 24 hours and represent his country, India. This will also register a world record as of now. The most hours stayed here is 21 hours. Mountaineers from all over the world pursue to climb Mt. Everest every year, but he will be the first one to spend 24 hours on the peak and represent India. He has been waiting for this opportunity for 4 years but this year he is determined to achieve it. He will set a new world record, and India will gain international recognition in the field of adventure sports as a result of his accomplishment. The news will be published not only in local and national newspapers and publications but also in international broadcasting organisations such as the BBC and Deutsche Welle.

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