Amritsar mountaineer all set to scale Mount Aconcagua in Argentina

The Seven Summits challenge is one of the most coveted goals in the mountaineering world. It involves scaling the highest peak on each of the seven continents — a test of endurance, technical skill, and mental resilience that only a few hundred climbers across the globe have accomplished.

Among those aspiring to achieve this remarkable feat is Tarundeep Singh, a city-based mountaineer driven by a singular dream — to raise the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh religious flag, atop all seven summits of the world.

The 36-year-old mountaineer has already completed two major summits in 2023, achieving them back-to-back within a few months. He successfully completed the Mount Everest Base Camp trek in just 14 days and later summited Mount Kilimanjaro, part of the Seven Summits Challenge, finishing the 95 km climb in seven days to hoist the Nishan Sahib atop the 19,341-foot-high peak. Tarundeep has also scaled Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe and the tallest volcano in Eurasia.

A self-trained climber, he prepares rigorously for each expedition, carrying his own gear and spending months in physical and mental training. “Ever since I started climbing, I wanted to see the Nishan Sahib on these peaks that challenge our limits. What began as a pursuit of thrill has turned into an exercise in self-exploration,” he said. “Every climb teaches me discipline, humility and gratitude and that’s why I always carry the Nishan Sahib with me.”

Currently based in Perth, Australia, Tarundeep hails from a business family in Amritsar and also runs a hotel in the city. His next mission is Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, located near the Chilean border. Despite the enormous cost involved, Tarundeep has been funding his expeditions himself.

“It’s said you don’t climb the mountain to reach the top — you climb it to see who you become on the way up,” he said. “At Mount Elbrus, I carried nearly 23 kg of extra weight in gear and shoes. When I returned, I found my toenails had come off with the shoes. These climbs push you beyond physical limits and teach you what it means to truly live.”

Tarundeep is now preparing for his fourth summit and remains determined to complete the Seven Summits Challenge, one peak at a time. He also summited Mount Kosciuszko this year.