Jyoti Ratre

Jyoti Ratre (born 1969) is an Indian mountaineer from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. On 29 May 2024, she became the oldest Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, at the age of 55, breaking the previous national record of 53 years.

She climbed Mount Elbrus (5,642 m) in 2021, Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) in 2021, and Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m) in 2023, among other notable peaks.

Early life and background Jyoti Ratre was born in Madhya Pradesh, India. She completed her education in central India, earning degrees in science and economics.

Mountaineering career Ratre developed an interest in mountaineering after a trip to Manali and began training in 2018 at the age of 49. As some mountaineering institutes have age limits, she undertook self-directed training.

In 2021, Jyoti Ratre climbed Mount Elbrus (5,642 meters) in Europe and Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters) in Africa. She later climbed Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 meters) in Australia. She climbed Island Peak (Imja Tse) in Nepal’s Sagarmatha National Park.

Her first attempt to summit Mount Everest was in May 2023, reaching 8,200 meters before turning back due to weather and a teammate's illness. She made a second attempt in May 2024 as part of a 15-member international team led by Bolivian climber David Hugo Ayaviri Quispe. On 19 May 2024, she reached the summit of Mount Everest (8,848.86 meters), becoming the oldest Indian woman to summit the mountain.

Summits

Awards and recognition In 2021, Ratre received the Indian Inspirational Women Award (IIWA) in recognition of her mountaineering achievements. On 11 June 2025, Ratre received the Patrika Tejaswini Award 2025 for her contributions.