The “Chill Maadi” Family that Walked Across the World’s Highest Hikeable Pass

A Bengaluru family with no mountaineering background spent eight months preparing for the Annapurna Circuit—and discovered that ordinary people may be capable of far more than they imagine.

Meet the "Chill Maadi" family from Bengaluru, whose idea of altitude was a mall's third floor. This isn't your typical mountaineering saga. A midnight WhatsApp message launched a 61-year-old father, 59-year-old mother, and 28-year-old son, none with trekking experience, onto an improbable journey: the Annapurna Circuit, culminating in Thorong La Pass (5,416m)—the world's highest hikeable pass. Eight months of rigorous preparation, coupled with invaluable guidance from experienced, no-nonsense friends, transformed their "Chill Maadi" mindset. This inspiring tale proves that with the right support system and unwavering determination, ordinary people can indeed achieve extraordinary feats, pushing past perceived limits to discover immense capabilities within themselves.

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Sanjay Swamy

Co-Founder and Managing Partner | Prime