Shuvam Chatterjee, a mountaineer from Hindmotor in West Bengal, has successfully climbed both Mount Everest and Lhotse within a span of less than 48 hours, marking one of the biggest achievements of his climbing career so far.
According to expedition organisers Elite Exped, Shuvam scaled the peak of Mount Everest on May 20, 2026, followed by the ascent of Lhotse on May 21, 4:15 pm.
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His Everest summit came on what is reportedly being described as the busiest summit day in the mountain’s history from the Nepal side. Reports indicate that around 258 climbers managed to reach the summit of Mount Everest during the timeframe between 2 am and 3 pm on May 20, resulting in heavy traffic above their paths.
However, despite the heavy traffic and the challenging weather window, along with considerable delays at the summit ridge, Shuvam succeeded in scaling the peak of Mount Everest with his sherpa Dawa Temba.
Heavy traffic slows summit push
Elite Exped stated that the process was extremely lengthy as compared to their earlier expectations due to congestion of climbers in some of the key areas above Camp 4. Climbers had to spend hours waiting in freezing temperatures while passing through some of the narrow sections of the mountain near Hillary Step. The team of Elite Exped congratulated all climbers and guides who were involved in this mission.
Immediately after reaching Mount Everest’s summit, Shuvam started his preparation for climbing Mount Lhotse. Mount Lhotse was said to be one of the toughest ascents at high altitudes as climbers have to stay in the ‘death zone’ with very little rest time.
On May 21, he accomplished the summit successfully, joining an elite group of climbers worldwide who have achieved the Everest-Lhotse double summit in a single season.
A journey from Hindmotor to the world’s highest peaks
Shuvam Chatterjee also known as "Mountaineer Ronnie", developed an interest in mountaineering at a young age. After completing his board examinations in 2012, he began serious training in adventure sports and mountaineering. Shuvam has also been associated with Climbers' Circle since 2023, one of India’s premier mountaineering and adventure clubs which carries nearly five decades of legacy in Indian mountaineering.
He later completed advanced mountaineering courses at the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) in Arunachal Pradesh and gradually built an international climbing profile. Over the last two years, Shuvam has completed a series of remarkable expeditions across continents. In February 2024, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak and volcano in Africa, becoming the first Indian to sing the national anthem at the summit.
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In July 2024, he climbed Mount Elbrus, the highest peak and volcano in Europe, becoming the first Indian climber to ascend and descend through the mountain’s difficult northern route. In September 2024, he summited Mount Giluwe and Mount Wilhelm in Oceania, reportedly setting a world record by completing both climbs within 49 hours.
Two months later, he climbed Carstensz Pyramid, regarded as the highest peak in Oceania under the Bass Seven Summits classification, where he again sang the Indian national anthem at the summit. His climbing record also includes Ojos del Salado in January 2025, the world’s highest volcano, and Pico de Orizaba in June 2025, the highest volcano in North America.
Recently, he also completed expeditions to Mount Vinson and Mount Sidley which are the highest mountain and volcano of the 7th continent.
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Two summits away from rare global milestone
Following the Everest-Lhotse double summit, Shuvam now has only two major climbs left to complete an ambitious global challenge involving the highest mountains and volcanic summits across continents. The remaining climbs are Mount Damavand, the highest volcano in Asia, and Denali, North America’s highest mountain.
If completed successfully, Shuvam is expected to become the youngest climber to finish both the Seven Summits and Seven Volcanic Summits challenges which is a feat achieved by only a handful of mountaineers worldwide.
For now, however, the focus remains on a safe descent from the Himalayas after an expedition that has already placed the Bengal climber among India’s most promising high-altitude mountaineers.
