00:00That's an Indian mountaineer on top of Mount Everest, that fierce, beautiful mountain.
00:08Hi, I am Prukhiti, the struggling Indian mountaineer who refuses to give up.
00:13I climbed Everest in May 2022 and I recently climbed Lhotse, which is the fourth highest mountain.
00:21It was this week, 72 years ago, that the world's tallest peak was first summited by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Nauge.
00:27But today, Mount Everest faces overcrowding, garbage everywhere and ethical concerns over exploitation of the Sherpas who live here.
00:35How did the mountain that George Mallory wanted to summit, simply because it was there, become what some now address as the towering symbol of human greed?
00:48Today, climbing Everest can cost anywhere between 40 lakh rupees to 80 lakhs.
00:51Back in 1953, that same amount funded an entire expedition.
00:56Teams of climbers, Sherpas, scientists and critical supplies.
01:00What once brought a whole team to the summit, now covers only a single climber.
01:05Sealed in comparison to 1953, I would say there are better rescue systems, there are a lot of helicopters for privileged climbing.
01:13There is better connectivity.
01:15Prakriti's journey to the summit lasted around 52 days.
01:18Hillary and Norge's adventure had lasted a grueling 82 days beginning on foot from Kathmandu.
01:24No helicopters, no weather forecasts, no lifelines.
01:27Today, however,
01:28There is Wi-Fi, so you are always connected with your family and friends.
01:33And the equipments are a lot better, a lot lighter, a lot more convenient and safe.
01:39In 1953, climbers carried their dreams and their gear.
01:42Around 40 kilograms each are put on their own shoulders.
01:46No porters, no aerial supply drops and no radios or satellite phones.
01:50Once on the mountain, they relied solely on themselves and each other.
01:55Yet, the most dramatic change is not just technology, it's money.
01:59I ended up spending over 30 lakhs.
02:02Nowadays, it's over 40 lakhs and can go anywhere up till 70 to 80 lakhs.
02:11Today, Everest is a thriving billion dollar industry.
02:15Each season sees hundreds of climbers spending tens of lakhs each.
02:19Luxury wastecams, private sherpas, even champagne at the summit, all await those who can afford it.
02:24Nepal earned around 5.8 million dollars in 2023 from climbing permits alone,
02:29with Everest permits contributing 5 million dollars of that, roughly 6.7 percent of its GDP.
02:35Everest isn't merely the world's tallest peak anymore, it's a high altitude enterprise.
02:54It's a game of paradise.
02:56It's a subscriber of Japan.
02:58We're also heavily surrounded by manyquically ultra-
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