Twenty NCC girl cadets from across India have achieved a remarkable feat after completing the ‘Aparajita-Parang La 2026’ expedition, a 30-day high-altitude trek spanning 250 kilometres across Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. The expedition took the cadets through rugged landscapes, glaciers, snowfields and river valleys before reaching Karzok in Ladakh.

At the heart of the challenge was the formidable Parang La Pass, standing at 5,578 metres and connecting Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley with Ladakh’s Changthang region. The cadets covered the route from Kibber in Himachal Pradesh to Karzok in Ladakh, navigating some of the most demanding terrain in the Himalayas.

Strength, Endurance and Teamwork

The All India Girls High Altitude Long Trek is a flagship adventure activity of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), designed to push young cadets beyond their comfort zones while exposing them to the realities of high-altitude expeditions. The 20-member team was accompanied by NCC officers, instructors, medical personnel and support staff throughout the journey.

The expedition tested far more than physical endurance. The challenging conditions demanded discipline, teamwork, confidence and the ability to keep moving despite difficult terrain and harsh mountain conditions.

Congratulating the cadets and staff after the successful completion, NCC Director General Lieutenant General Virendra Vats highlighted the role of such adventures in developing leadership, self-confidence, teamwork and endurance among young people.

From Delhi to the Himalayas

The expedition began with a ceremonial flag-off in New Delhi on August 18 by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. It was later flagged off at Karzok in Ladakh by Lieutenant General Virendra Vats and Dipti Mohil Chawla, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence. 

Beyond adventure, the expedition carried a larger message. Organised to encourage greater participation of young women in adventure activities, the trek gave the cadets an opportunity to experience challenging high-altitude conditions firsthand. It also brought together young women from different parts of the country, turning a demanding Himalayan journey into an experience of national integration, camaraderie and shared achievement.