At 59, most slow down. But Vasanthi, a tailor from Kerala, decided to take on Everest Base Camp — solo. Battling altitude, language barriers, and uncertainty, she set out on a journey that defied age and expectations.
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00:00Standing at an altitude of 5,364 metres, wrapped in a traditional Kasavu saree over her trekking
00:11suit, she waved the Indian flag, her dream fulfilled.
00:14But this was no ordinary trek.
00:16This is the story of Vasanthi Cheruvithil, a 59-year-old tailor from Kerala who defied
00:21age, expectations and fear to reach the Everest base camp alone.
00:26For four months, she trained relentlessly, walking three hours every morning, taking
00:31evening hikes and strengthening her body for the journey ahead.
00:34She even learned Hindi because adventure has no language barriers.
00:38The journey wasn't easy.
00:39When her flight to Lukla got cancelled, she met a German couple who suggested an alternate
00:44route.
00:45And that's how she found her porter, who was to become her only companion.
00:49With no safety net, she walked six to seven hours daily.
00:52The altitude hit hard.
00:54Every few steps, she stopped, five deep breaths, steadying herself before moving again.
00:59This wasn't her first adventure.
01:01In 2024, she travelled alone to Thailand, learning basic Thai along the way.
01:05Now, she dreams of walking the Great Wall of China.
01:08A tailor by profession, she funds her own trips, sometimes with help from her sons.
01:13Before leaving, she handed over her gold ornaments to them, pawned them if I ever need money,
01:17she had said.
01:19On her way back, she fulfilled another dream, her first helicopter ride.
01:23At 59, more slow down, Vasanthi is speeding up.
01:27Because life isn't about waiting, it's about taking that first step and never stopping.