The Vijayawada-based mountaineer and his grandson from Hyderabad scale Mount Elbrus, turning a personal passion into a shared Seven Summits dream
New Delhi: Age proved to be no barrier for 72-year-old Lingam Ravindra Rao, who successfully climbed Mount Elbrus alongside his 17-year-old grandson, Anuraag Pokuri. The grandfather-grandson duo conquered the 5,642-metre mountain, turning the expedition into a memorable family achievement.
Ravindra Rao, a resident of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, reached the West Peak of Mount Elbrus on August 14. He was 72 years, one month and 13 days old at the time. According to the information provided, he is the oldest Indian to have climbed Mount Elbrus as of his ascent.
Anuraag, who lives in Hyderabad, Telangana, took the challenge a step further by climbing both the West and East Peaks consecutively. He completed both peaks in just 3 hours and 44 minutes. According to the information provided, he is the youngest citizen of Indian origin to complete both peaks back-to-back as of the date of the achievement.
A Passion for Adventure That Began at 18
Ravindra’s connection with endurance and adventure began long before he entered the world of mountaineering. In 1972, while studying at IIT Kharagpur, he and his friends undertook a 1,700-kilometre cycling journey from Kharagpur to Darjeeling, completing it in 10 days.
His professional and business commitments later kept him busy, but he continued to prioritise fitness and sports. Eventually, his passion for adventure drew him towards mountaineering.
In 2024, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Labouche. Mount Elbrus is now the latest addition to his list of mountaineering achievements.
Two Generations, One Mountaineering Goal
For Ravindra and Anuraag, Mount Elbrus is not the final destination. The grandfather and grandson are now preparing for the Seven Summits challenge. It involves climbing the highest mountain on each of the world’s seven continents.
Anuraag is a Grade 12 student at the International School Hyderabad. He has already climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. His successful Mount Elbrus expedition has further strengthened his mountaineering credentials at a young age.
The expedition also gave Ravindra a chance to share his passion with the next generation. What began as his personal adventure has now become a shared family dream.
Message for the Next Generation
Beyond his own achievements, Ravindra Rao wants more young people to participate in sports. He believes India’s sporting talent needs to be identified early and developed through structured training.
According to him, schools should make sports an integral part of education and encourage every student to choose a sport with access to qualified coaching.
His journey—from cycling 1,700 kilometres at 18 to climbing a 5,642-metre peak at 72—offers a powerful message about staying active, embracing challenges and continuing to pursue new goals at every stage of life.
