Vidarbha Institute of Mountaineering & Adventure - VIMA

Kancha Sherpa, the last surviving member of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s pioneering 1953 Everest expedition, has died aged 92. Sherpa played a vital role, climbing to the last camp. The Nepali mountaineering community mourns the loss of a legendary figure whose memory is woven into the summit's history.

Seventeen-year-old Kaamya Karthikeyan has just become the world’s youngest female to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents, completing the legendary “Seven Summits” challenge. On December 24, 2024, she proudly planted the Indian flag atop Antarctica’s Mt. Vinson, becoming the youngest ever to achieve this feat.

Earlier, in May 2024, at just 16, Kaamya also became the youngest Indian and the second-youngest girl globally to summit Mount Everest from the Nepal side.

A student at Mumbai’s Navy Children School and the daughter of a naval officer, Kaamya’s journey is a shining example of determination, discipline, and strong family support. Beginning her mountaineering pursuits at the age of seven, she has now earned a place in history. Her incredible path includes summiting Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe, Kosciuszko in Australia, Aconcagua in South America, Denali in North America, Everest in Asia, and finally Vinson in Antarctica.

Yet, despite this extraordinary accomplishment, there has been very little public recognition. Apart from the Indian Navy and her school, most media outlets and public figures have remained silent. This lack of widespread acknowledgment risks overshadowing one of the most inspiring stories of youth and resilience.

Kaamya Karthikeyan deserves every bit of applause, recognition, and national pride. Her courage and dedication are not only a personal triumph but a beacon of hope for young Indians everywhere who dare to chase their dreams.

FORTS of VIDARBHA

BHINGARH FORT.

The Bhingarh Fort is a Ground Fort situated at Lat 21.14878, Lng 76.5085 in village Bhingara in Jalgaon(J) Tehsil of Buldhana District of Vidarbha Region in Maharashtra State.. It is 21 km away from Sub-District Headquarters Jalgaon -Jamod and about 98 km away from District Headquarters Buldhana.

While travelling on the Jalgaon Jamod to Bharanpur lush green hills & forest road, one has to turn right at about 16 km to descend to end of the valley on a dirt road to reach village Bhingara . This is a small village with approximately 300 houses and about 20 kms from Jalgaon Jamod town and is abode of the Bhil community.

Raja Sitan Khan the Bhil King is said to have build a beautiful ground fort on the outskirts of the village. Now his descendant who resides at Sungaon inherits the fort.
In front of the fort a beautiful lake is build. The fort complex is in ruins and on its last stage to decay. One more example of negligence of the authorities to restore ancient & historical monuments of Vidarbha Region.

Citizens of Vidarbha, its an appeal to you to come forward and join the “Forts of Vidarbha Conservation Society’ and help to restore forts of our region.

It is a must spot for adventurers to visit.

Adgaon Raja Fort
Hill Fort
Lat 19.92137 Lng 76.21542

Adgaon Raja is a village in Sindkhedraja Taluka in Buldhana District. It is located 80 km towards South from District head quarters Buldhana in Amravati Division in Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra, 13 km away from Sindkhedraja and about 450 Km from the city of Nagpur.

Situated on a high cliff is the 800 years old fort (constructed in the beginning of the 16th centaury AD ) by Shrimant Raje Lakhojirao Jadhav,(the paternal grand father of Shri Shri Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj). Surrounded by huge and long fort walls, still stands and reflects the past glory of this fort. The fort is build of black stones.
The fort had for four big ramparts, each placed at the corner of the bastions of which now only three are remaining. The bastion is 18 kms long, with a well inside.

The fort is in ruin state, not maintained at all nor looked after by the authorities. An immediate attention is required to restore this property, or else Vidarbha will be loosing one of its most valued historical monument.

The Fort has a strong and huge wooden door at its entrance. The chambers inside the fort has beautiful carved designed with big arch rooms and marvelously designed roof of the hall. This is a double storied designed fort with a underground section .

According to Shri Sitaram Daulatrao Raje Jadhav, a senior member of the Jadhav clan, with whom I had the pleasure to interact at the village, informed me that for the security of the main fort at Sindkhede Raja, four smaller forts mainly as observation posts were build at Kingaonraja, Adgaonraja, Mehunaraja and at Deulgadraja in four N-S-E-W directions each at a distance of about 13 to 15 kms away.
Previously in olden times there were mud huts around it, but now several recently constructed houses and buildings has come up.

Inside the fort is a way to the tunnel, which leads to small rooms underground.
The tunnel has very small and narrow entrance, I being a six feet tall person had to bend half of my body to enter for the way down.
Once underground, each rooms leads to another and these inter connected rooms leads outside for secret exits. Each of these underground room have small window for fresh air, and one wonders the master planning and designing of the fort. Bats have made their homes inside. These secret escape routes during emergency leads to small rooms situated at a distance from the main fort complex.

There is a stairways to reach the top of the fort, from where a full view of village Adgaonraja and its far off surroundings can be seen.

Raje Lakhojirao Jadhav’s arsenal is said to be in the possession of his elder brother Raje Jagdevrao at Adgaonraja. Not only do we see underground cellers inside this fort today, but we also read that some guns were found while digging in the fort premises in 1987, but we don’t know what happened next.

GHUGUSGAD – An ancient site of VAKATAKA era .

As a hard core adventurer it is my passion to explore the unknown and the lesser known sites.

I take help of historians and senior scholars to throw some light on sites for me to explore. Dr Chandrashekhar Gupta – the then Head of Department of Ancient Indian History, Archeology & Culture, of Nagpur University and Late Shri Shankar Govindrao Ch**te Guruji – one of the greatest scholar of history of our region who was also the Member of Maharashtra State Board of Archeology & Archives were the two main source from whom I obtained information that an article had appeared in a Journal of Asiatic Society ( an oldest centre of learning and research in the whole of continent of Asia which was established in 1784 ) that one Mr T.A.Wellsted an European Mining Contractor working at Mansar, reported that while he was exploring the wild jungles in the deep forest along the river Pench, at Nandapur, at a distance from Kolitmara, on a hill top, he found stones and bricks walls scattered all over. He further reported that due to very thick & wild vegetation he could not take up the journey further. Later, we also approached the Dy.CF and the Publicity Officer of Nagpur Forests for more information, but all that they could tell us was that there do exists an old fort at Guggusgarh on the western side of Pench river, the inhabitants of which are said to have first settled in the present Nagpur City and handed over to us a publicity leaflet of the then Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru National Park in which the above was mentioned.(previously the present Pench National Park was divided into two parts, the forest area in Maharashtra was known as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru National Park while the forest area in Madhya Pradesh was known as Priyadarshani National Park)

With this information at hand along with my friend Vijay Agrawal, I had set out to explore in the summer of 1983. On reaching Kolitmara we tried to extract more information of the site but none was able to say anything more than that they have been told by their elders that there was an old settlement know as Ghugusgad.

‘Gad’ in Hindi & Marathi refers to fort or a hillock.

In the summer of May 1983 under the scorching sun we trekked the targeted area and found stone & brick structures spread in an area of about 25 kms. We found a huge arch shaped structure, brick walls and bastions of fort. We also found a hoard of stone idols and a pot containing small silver coins. Due to the weight of those stone idols we could carry back with us only small idols and the silver coins. Highly excited of our discovery, next day we went to the Office of the Asst. Director of Archeology and Museum, Vidarbha Region and handed over our findings to them. That very day we also informed the local press.

Equally excited were the Officials of the Archeology Department of our findings and the very next day early morning we set out with them in their official jeep. On reaching the site, archeology experts, who had more sharp sight to indentify such artifacts due to their experience in the field of archeology, started collecting the treasure. We found stone idols, earthern seals, and potteries. In the fort wall large quantity of stone images were also reported baked bricks of 18” X9”x3” were scattered right all over the area.

Before loading in their jeep several photographs were taken by their official photographer. That very day we returned back home late evening.

According to Late Shri Shankar Govingroao Ch**te Guruji, Ex Member of Maharashtra State Board of Archeology & Archives that site was unknown to the historians till todate and that Nandapur was the Capital of the Vakataka Dynasty.

Presently we can see some of the silver coins and the artifacts displayed in the Central Museum Nagpur that were given by us.

I am so delighted and happy to know that after a gap of 41 years of my reporting, now the RTM Nagpur University and the Forest Department is paying attention to my discovery. Better late than never.

There are several such ancient sites in the wild forests in Vidarbha Region which needs immediate attention for restoration.

Our exploration team of the Vidarbha Institute of Mountaineering & Adventure (VIMA) revealed one more fortress of archeological and historical important site in the dense jungles of Melghat Tiger Reserve. This marvelous structure of archeogical importance lying in total ruins, with wild vegetation growing inside & over it destroying the beautiful monument. This needs immediate attention of the government authorities or else one more historical monument of Vidarbha will be lost for ever.
The coordinates of this place are N 21⁰ 17’4.0416” E 77”6’29.4444” and is 3km inside in the deep jungles on the right side on Belkund-Khatkali State Highway No.204.
While using the Map Coordinator this place shows as Dhamangaon Gadi which is totally wrong. Whereas the Dhamangaon Gadi is a Mud Fort which is in Dhamangaon village, 13 km away on way to Gawligad from Paratwada town in Amravati dist, where as this structure is built of solid black stones.

Greetings of the Day!
*Niti Narrates* in collaboration with *Maharaja of Nagpur Trust* is organising Heritage Walk at *Kashibai Temple Complex* – The Rajghat of the Royal Bhonsle Family on *17.03.2024*, Sunday from *08:00 am to 11:00 am*.

The Rajghat has a lot of Chhatris belonging to the Bhonsle kings and queens and their sardars. During the Bhonsle rule the place was known as Thadaga Bagh, and later renamed as Kashibai Temple Complex, after Rani Kashibai performed sati after the demise of her husband Raja Parsoji II. The Kashibai Temple Complex is not only a visual treat to the eye but also a sensorial experiencing site with a glorious history. This is evident when we look at the splendid structures having intricate and exquisite carvings, traditional design, and unique architectural character, each narrating a different story about the king or the queen in whose honour they were built.

*_The walk will be followed by special performance by the Veeraangan Akhada_*

Registration Fees - ₹120
Registration link - *https://forms.gle/8HCPbzWgHoYegxN47*
Registration closes on 15.03.2024

_Enjoy refreshments with us after the walk_

For any query call us on
Ar. Nitika S. Ramani - +919960149404
Or mail us on [email protected]

Only the Yeti had made it until then. Then, one day in 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary set foot on the world's highest peak. Everest was conquered. The greatest challenge between man and mountain. It is known that every ascent and every adventure on the mountain is a challenge, dangerous, very dangerous, sometimes deadly, but for many men it is magnetic and irrelevable.

Born on this day, 1914.05.29; Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, Nepali pioneer, who was one of the first two individuals (along with Edmund Hillary) to have reached the summit of Mt Everest (8848.86 m) on 29 May, 1953.

Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, (late May 1914 – 9 May 1986) born Namgyal Wangdi was among the most famous mountain climbers in history, being one of the first two individuals (along with Edmund Hillary) to have reached the summit of Mount Everest on 29 May, 1953. He was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century.

Tenzing Norgay was born in Tshechu, presently in Tibet Autonomous Region, China. He grew up in a peasant family in Khumbu in Nepal. His exact date of birth is not known but it is believed that he was born in late May and later on he decided to celebrate May 29 as his birthday, as this was the date he climbed Everest. Tenzing Norgay's original name was Namgyal Wangdi, but as a child his name was changed on the advice of a lama. Norgay means fortunate. Tenzing Norgay ran away to Kathmandu twice as a boy, and eventually settled in the Sherpa community in Too Song Busti in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.

Tenzing got his first opportunity to join an Everest expedition when in 1935 he was employed by Eric Shipton, leader of the British expedition. Later, Tenzing took part as a high-altitude porter in three official British attempts to climb Everest from the northern Tibetan side in the 1930s. He also took part in other climbs in various parts of the Indian subcontinent, and for a time in the early 1940s he lived in what is now Pakistan, in the Princely State of Chitral. During this period, he scaled Nanda Devi, which he described as the most difficult climb he ever took. In 1947, he took part in an unsuccessful summit attempt of Everest but it ended when a strong storm at 22,000 ft (6,700 m) pounded them. In 1952, he took part in two Swiss expeditions led by Raymond Lambert, the first serious attempts to climb Everest from the southern (Nepali) side, during which he and Lambert reached the then-record height of 28,215 ft (8,599 m).

In 1953, he took part in John Hunt's British expedition, his own seventh expedition to Everest. After failure of first pair on 26 May which had reached the South Summit, coming within 300 vertical feet (91 m) of the summit, Hunt directed Tenzing and Hillary to go for the summit. Snow and wind held the pair up at the South Col for two days. They set out on 28 May and pitched a tent at 27,900 feet (8,500 m). On 29 May, they reached Everest's 8848.86 m summit, the highest point on Earth, at 11:30 a.m. They spent only about fifteen minutes at the summit. Hillary took the famous photo of Tenzing posing with his ice-axe, but since Tenzing had never used a camera, Hillary's ascent went unrecorded.

Hillary and Hunt were knighted by Queen Elizabeth, while Tenzing received the George Medal from the British Government. In 1953, King Tribhuvan of Nepal also presented the Order of the Star of Nepal, 1st Class. In 1959, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award of India.

Tenzing joined the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling since its inception and later became director of field training. In 1978, he founded Tenzing Norgay Adventures, a company providing trekking adventures in the Himalayas. The company is now run by his son Jamling Tenzing Norgay, who himself reached the summit of Everest in 1996. In 1978, the Government of India created the Tenzing Norgay Award in his honor.

Tenzing died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India, in 1986, at age 71. He was cremated in Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, his favorite haunt. In January 2008, Lukla Airport was renamed Tenzing-Hillary Airport in honor of the pair and their achievement