At 6 in the morning, when the Zanskar range was still wrapped in darkness and biting cold, two women from Arunachal Pradesh stood on top of the world — or at least, very close to it.
A Summit That Means More Than Just Altitude
January Tali and Hachu Lombo made history on July 27, 2026, when they successfully summited Mt Kun in Ladakh’s Zanskar region, reaching the 7,077-metre peak and etching their names into Arunachal Pradesh’s sporting and adventure legacy. With this feat, the duo became the first women mountaineers from the state to conquer the peak. That is not a small thing. That is a very big deal.
The pair had set off from Leh on July 16 as part of a mixed expedition team of nine climbers — two women and seven men, not counting Sherpas. The mountain, known for its punishing steep snow slopes, sprawling glaciers, and weather that can change without warning, is widely considered one of India’s most demanding high-altitude climbs. It demands months of preparation, a body that can take a beating, and a mind that won’t quit. Of the nine who attempted the summit push, only four made it to the top. The rest had to turn back — the mountain simply didn’t allow it.
Who Are These Women?
January Tali is no stranger to extreme altitude. Hailing from Upper Siang district, she had already carved out a reputation for herself before this climb. She was the first Arunachali woman to summit six Himalayan peaks within two weeks — a record that speaks for itself. Hachu Lombo, from Dibang Valley district, joins her now as a co-pioneer, her name permanently linked to this achievement. Two women from different corners of one of India’s most rugged and beautiful states, together writing a chapter that their home will talk about for years.
What Mt Kun Actually Demands
It’s worth understanding just what they climbed. At 7,077 metres, Mt Kun ranks among the highest peaks in the Zanskar range of the Indian Himalayas. Extensive acclimatisation isn’t optional here — it’s survival. The technical skills required go far beyond basic trekking, and the physical endurance needed is the kind that most people never get close to testing. The fact that five of nine climbers could not complete the summit attempt tells you everything about how unforgiving this mountain is.
What Comes Next
Both January Tali and Hachu Lombo are expected to receive official summit certificates from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation in New Delhi — a formal recognition of what they have accomplished. The certificates are deserved. The recognition is deserved. But honestly, the story of two women from Arunachal Pradesh hauling themselves to the top of a 7,077-metre Himalayan peak at 6 AM after an eleven-day expedition needs no certificate to make it real. They were there. And that changes everything.
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