Delhi-based entrepreneur Kulpreet Freddy Veesuna, 52, reached Everest Base Camp wearing a saree on September 29, 2026, weeks after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Veesuna arrived at Base Camp at 3:44 p.m., completing an ascent that included prolonged rain, slippery trails, snowfall and a three-day weather delay in Dingboche.
She began her journey on September 20, traveling from Kathmandu through Lukla, Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche and Gorakshep before the final trek to Base Camp. Her diagnosis in August added a personal challenge to the physically demanding expedition.
“It was challenges within challenges,” Veesuna said. “There was the MS diagnosis, there was the Everest Base Camp challenge, and there was my decision to do the entire journey in a saree. Every one of them brought its own uncertainty. But I decided that I would prepare, take the necessary precautions, listen to my body and take one step at a time.”
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From Namche Bazaar onward, Veesuna and her guides encountered persistent rain and worsening trail conditions. At Dingboche, snowfall and weather disruptions forced the team to wait three days for conditions to improve before continuing.
During her stop in Namche Bazaar, Veesuna acclimatized before proceeding to higher elevations. She also visited Sagarmatha Next, where she learned about efforts to manage waste and promote environmental responsibility in the Himalayas.
After leaving Dingboche, the team continued to Lobuche and Gorakshep, navigating increasingly demanding terrain at higher altitudes. Improved weather on September 29 allowed Veesuna to make the final approach to Everest Base Camp.
“Everest Base Camp is a dream come true. But more than reaching Base Camp, this journey has taught me that we often make our dreams look much bigger than they actually are. You don’t have to conquer the entire mountain in one day. You just have to take one step at a time,” she said.
Reflecting on the weeks following her diagnosis, Veesuna described the difficulties she faced during the expedition.
“Then came the Everest journey, the weather, the rain, the snow, the three days we had to spend in Dingboche and, of course, my decision to trek in a saree. But I chose not to let one challenge become a reason to give up on another dream,” she added.
Veesuna said she hoped her experience would encourage more Indians to explore trekking, emphasizing preparation, training, guidance and respect for mountain conditions.
“I am not a professional trekker, and I would not describe myself as someone who was naturally fit for this. I prepared myself and kept working towards it. India has so many beautiful treks and mountains. I want more people to discover them. Everest Base Camp is a high-altitude challenge and it is a completely different world, but it is not a dream that ordinary Indians should automatically consider impossible.”
For Veesuna, wearing a saree was a way to carry her identity throughout the journey. It also reflected the philosophy behind her expedition: “One Life. Live It.”
Following her arrival at Base Camp, she said she was considering a future attempt to climb Mount Everest, with time for further preparation.
“Everest Base Camp has shown me that the mountains have much more to teach me. Everest itself is a dream I am now thinking about. Maybe two or three years from now, with the right preparation, I would like to attempt it. For now, I am grateful for this journey.”
Her message to others pursuing a long-held goal was: “Don’t postpone your life waiting for everything to become perfect. Start where you are. Prepare yourself. Take one step at a time. And keep going.”
