The Himalayas are about to become the classroom for 28 young women. Led by three women officers drawn from the Army, Navy and Air Force, a team of NCC girl cadets has embarked on ‘Aparajita – Parang La 2026’, an ambitious expedition across the formidable Parang La Pass.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the expedition in Delhi, marking the beginning of a demanding 250-km journey through some of the most remote landscapes of the Himalayas. At an average age of just 19, the team embodies a remarkable spirit of adventure. The youngest participant is only 16.

30 Days. 250 Kilometres. 5,578 Metres.

Rising to 5,578 metres, Parang La connects Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley with Ladakh’s Changthang region and is regarded as one of India’s most challenging high-altitude trekking routes.

Over 30 days, the cadets will navigate a dramatic landscape that includes high-altitude deserts, glaciers, snowfields and river valleys. Their route will take them through Kibber, Dumla, Thaltak, Bongrojen, Parang La Pass, Dak Karzong, Norbu Sumdo, Kiangdom and finally Korzok.

But this is more than an adventure expedition. It has been designed as a test of endurance, teamwork, discipline, leadership and mental resilience.

Prepared for the Challenge

The cadets were not selected overnight. A preparatory and acclimatisation trek through the Bhaba-Pin Valley sector helped assess their physical and mental readiness before the final team was chosen on merit. Accompanying the cadets are officers, instructors, medical personnel and support staff, ensuring that the expedition has the expertise needed to navigate the demanding terrain.

Singh described the participation of the young women as a powerful expression of Nari Shakti, saying that the experience would help them discover their own inner strength and return with lessons that could stay with them for life.

Beyond the Mountains

The expedition also carries a larger message. Cadets from NCC directorates across India are participating, bringing together young people from diverse languages, cultures and backgrounds under one mission.

Singh urged them to make safety, environmental responsibility and respectful interaction with local communities their priorities. He also called for a zero-waste approach to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

As these young cadets climb towards Parang La, they will be carrying more than backpacks. They will carry a powerful idea: that courage is not the absence of difficulty, but the determination to keep moving forward. And that is precisely what ‘Aparajita’ means—unconquered.