Ara: Moni Chaudhary, a resident of Katira Mohalla in Ara, Bhojpur district, has made history by successfully climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak. She reached the summit, known as Uhuru Peak, on January 1, 2026, at 7:40 AM, standing at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet). Her achievement has brought Bihar recognition in the international mountaineering community.
The seven-day expedition tested Moni’s physical endurance and mental resilience as she navigated dense forests, moorlands, alpine deserts, and extreme cold. Known for her disciplined preparation, she balanced her mountaineering pursuits with her role as a manager at Bihar Gramin Bank.
Moni’s journey is built on prior experience. She climbed Mount Yonam in Himachal Pradesh on 15 August 2024 and completed the Annapurna Base Camp expedition in Nepal in April 2025. She also completed a basic mountaineering course in Manali in June 2023. Her love for mountains began with a childhood visit to the Tungnath Shiva Temple, which inspired her adventurous path.
Despite the high costs of expeditions, Moni has funded many of her journeys herself. This time, bank leave supported her participation. She believes that government backing could enable Indian mountaineers to aim even higher, encouraging youth to pursue challenging and inspiring goals.
