Neeraj Choudhary

Neeraj Choudhary (born 11 July 1984) is an Indian mountaineer, entrepreneur and polar explorer from the northwestern state of Rajasthan, India.[1][2]

Neeraj Choudhary
Neeraj in September 2019
Personal information
Nickname
Chechu
NationalityIndian
Born (1984-07-11) 11 July 1984 (age 41)
Abhaypura (अभयपुरा), Sikar, India
EducationB.E., M.B.M. University; M.Tech., IIT Delhi
Occupations
  • Environmental Engineer, Coal India Limited (past)
  • Executive Engineer, Water Resource Department, Rajasthan (recent)
Climbing career
Type of climber


Highest grade
Major ascentsAscent of Mount Everest on the first attempt, and Skiing across Greenland ice sheet
At the summit of Mount Everest, during a short stay before returning.[1]

Early life, education and employment

Neeraj was born in Abhaipura, Sikar District, Rajasthan. He pursued his Bachelor of Engineering (Honors) in civil engineering from MBM University, Jodhpur and later earned a Master of Technology (M.Tech.) degree in Environmental Engineering and Management from IIT Delhi in 2011.[3][4]

Since the schooldays, Neeraj was inclined to martial arts, cycling, marathon running, and later he developed a passion for climbing. He continued to train for climbing during his college years and beyond - resulting in Mt. Kilimanjaro summit in Africa, and many other 6000m and 7000m summits in India - before making an attempt for the Mount Everest in the summer of 2021.

Neeraj has worked in multiple roles and capacities for a living alongside his professional training and expeditions. Before 2016, he had worked for Coal India Limited as environmental engineer, and currently works for state Water Resource department in Rajasthan in capacity of flood cell in-charge. In addition, he briefly served as an instructor at a local engineering college at Jaipur before departing to continue his pursuit of mountaineering aspirations.

Mountaineering and polar expeditions

A skilled mountaineer and polar explorer, Choudhary has the following list of achievements.

Mount Everest (8,848.86 m)

Neeraj successfully summited the world's highest peak on 31 May 2021 as part of an expedition organized by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), under the aegis of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt of India, shortly after recovering from COVID-19.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

Horizontal Skiing across Greenland (Unassisted)

In May 2024, Neeraj finished the almost 600 km ski cross from Kangerlussuaq (West Coast) to Isortoq (East Coast) in 29 days. This achievement represents one of the first successful crossings by an Indian and the one from Rajasthan.[11][12]

Central Norway Trip (Unassisted)

Neeraj completed a trip to mountain plateau of Hardangervidda, Norway, in the spring of 2026 to train for an expedition of south pole later that year.[13]

Awards and recognition

Neeraj's contributions have been recognized by various bodies within India. Following his Everest summit, he was honored by the Director of his alma mater Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and post-recovery achievements in the same year.[14][15] The popular news media outlet Rajasthan Patrika included him in the best 40 under 40 years age Power List in the Sports category.[16] In January 2025, the Election Commission of India appointed him the State Election Icon in his home state for voter awareness campaigns among the people.[17][18][19]

Sagarmatha View - Neeraj Choudhary during Everest Summit Expedition 2021
Canvas painting for the summit dream banner - contribution from a kid.
Mount Everest (2021)

See also

List of Indian summiteers of Mount Everest

References

  1. ^ a b "गर्व:अभयपुरा के नीरज चौधरी ने फतह किया माउंट एवरेस्ट, दल में शामिल होने वाले प्रदेश के अकेले पर्वतारोही". 2021-06-03.
  2. ^ Chettri, Shradha (2021-07-13). "Height of resilience: IIT-Delhi alumnus fights off Covid-19, scales Everest". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-09-30.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ IIT Delhi, Newsletter (July 2023). "Flag in ceremony for IIT Delhi Alum Neeraj Choudhary who scaled the MT.Everest". Alumni Relations, IIT Delhi.
  4. ^ Yadav, Mangal. "IIT दिल्ली के पूर्व छात्र ने फतह किया एवरेस्ट, कोरोना से उबरने के सात हफ्ते के भीतर हासिल की कामयाबी - IIT delhi awarded to ex student Neeraj Choudhary for climbs Mount Everest". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  5. ^ NDTV, Press Trust of India (Jul 11, 2021). "IIT Delhi Alumnus Scales Mount Everest Within 7 Weeks Of Recovering From Covid". www.ndtv.com. Archived from the original on 2025-10-13. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  6. ^ "IIT Delhi alumnus scales Mt Everest within seven weeks of recovering from COVID-19". The New Indian Express. 11 July 2021.
  7. ^ "IIT Delhi Alumnus Neeraj Chaudhary scales Mt Everest post Covid recovery". India Today. 2021-07-11. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  8. ^ Srivastava, Vanita (15 July 2021). "Onwards and upwards: How one man defeated Covid to scale Mt Everest".
  9. ^ Staff Reporter (2021-07-10). "IIT-D felicitates alumnus for climbing Mt. Everest". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  10. ^ தினத்தந்தி (2021-07-12). "கொரோனாவில் இருந்து மீண்டவர் எவரெஸ்ட் சிகரம் ஏறி சாதனை". www.dailythanthi.com (in Tamil). Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  11. ^ Deora, Akshita (2024-11-07). "ग्रीनलैंड क्रॉस करने वाले पहले भारतीय बने जयपुर के नीरज, -35 डिग्री तापमान के बावजूद नहीं डिगा हौसला | Jaipur's Mountaineer Neeraj Chaudhary Became 1st Indian To Cross Worlds 2nd Largest Ice Sheet Greenland". Patrika News (in Hindi). Retrieved 2026-03-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Ousland Explorers - Diary-GRL-Ine". Ousland Explorers. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  13. ^ Merete Tho, Tone (2026-04-30). "Sørpolen neste for Neeraj: – Trening i dei norske fjella er meir krevjande enn å krysse Grønland". Hallingdølen. Retrieved 2026-05-02.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Reporter, Staff. "IIT-D felicitates alumnus for climbing Mt. Everest".
  15. ^ "Mr. Neeraj Choudhary, MTech, (Shivalik hostel), IIT Delhi alumnus successfully scaled Mt Everest summit (8848.86m AMSL) on 31.05.2021. He carried IIT Delhi flag 🚩 and hoisted it on Mt Everest".
  16. ^ "Patrika 40 under 40: पावर लिस्ट 2.0 के विजेताओं के नाम घोषित, देखें राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश और छत्तीसगढ़ की पावर लिस्ट". Patrika. 2022-05-20.
  17. ^ "CEO Rajasthan welcomes on-board Sh Neeraj Choudhary, Ace Mountaineer, as State Icon appointed by ECI". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  18. ^ Srivastava, Sanjay Kumar (2025-01-17). "पर्वतारोही नीरज चौधरी राजस्थान स्टेट इलेक्शन आइकॉन घोषित, निर्वाचन आयोग ने सौंपा प्रमाण पत्र | Patrika News | हिन्दी न्यूज". Patrika News (in Hindi). Retrieved 2026-03-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "निर्वाचन आयोग ने पर्वतारोही नीरज चौधरी को राजस्थान स्टेट इलेक्शन आइकॉन किया घोषित". dainiknavajyoti.com (in Hindi). 2026-03-21. Retrieved 2026-03-22.

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