At the age of 72, Vidya Singh reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, becoming one of the oldest Indian women to make this ascent. However, the climb was only part of her long-standing passion for fitness and mountains.
Sports have always been a part of her life since childhood. At Madras University, she captained the women's tennis team and won gold and silver medals in swimming competitions.
Born into the former royal family of Vijayanagara in Andhra Pradesh, Vidya grew up in a family where maintaining physical fitness was part of daily life. Her parents played tennis, golf, and rode horses.
As she notes, 'It all started with a fitness regimen that was part of our lifestyle in childhood.' This foundation stayed with her long after university years and ultimately led her to the mountains.
A turning point was a spontaneous trip to Ladakh at the age of 59. Vidya completed a route to an altitude of 17,700 feet and was captivated by the mountains. She recalls, 'I was enchanted by the mountains.'
This first trek opened a new chapter. After that, she completed 19 high-altitude treks, including Montauk Kangri at an altitude of 6,250 meters in Eastern Ladakh and Yunam Peak at an altitude of 6,111 meters.
As reported by Cristel Dsouza for The Better India in November 2025, Vidya and her group began their ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro at 10:30 PM on March 6, 2025, illuminating the path with lanterns and guided by a personal guide.
She explains that there are two peaks on Mount Kilimanjaro: Stella Point (5,756 meters) and Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters). After a week, they reached the summit at 7 AM on March 13.
The descent required special endurance. 'We spent five hours descending the mountain and arrived at the camp around 11 AM,' says Vidya. The subsequent 12-kilometer route tested every step.
On the whitish rocky trail, there was no room for error. She explains, 'You couldn't take your eyes off it; if you stepped wrong, you could slip.'
The last day brought another challenge—a muddy 10-kilometer trail. Vidya recalls, 'The trail was dangerous. I fell about four times and had to help myself up through mud, gravel, and stones.'
Nevertheless, at 72, she continues to train, cycling, swimming, competing, and strength training.
She admits, 'If you are fit enough, climbing is not that difficult. I started at 59, but I regret not starting at 20.' For Vidya, mountains also mean humility: 'Climb with an open mind and leave your ego behind.'