Spiti to Ladakh: NCC Girls take on Parang La
Spiti to Ladakh: NCC Girls take on Parang La
Shimla, Aug18,
Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley will serve as the starting point for one of the National Cadet Corps’ most challenging all-India girls’ high-altitude expeditions, with 28 NCC girl cadets set to trek from Kibber in Spiti across the 5,578-metre Parang La Pass into Ladakh.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh flagged off the ‘Aparajita–Parang La 2026’ expedition in New Delhi on Tuesday. The 30-day, approximately 250-km trek will take the participants across some of the most remote and difficult terrain of the Himalayas, linking Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley with the Changthang region of Ladakh.
The expedition will begin from Kibber in Spiti, with the route passing through Dumla, Thaltak and Bongrojen before reaching the Parang La Pass. From there, the team will enter Ladakh and proceed through Dak Karzong, Norbu Sumdo, Kiangdom and Korzok.
The route will expose the cadets to high-altitude deserts, glaciers, snowfields and river valleys, making the expedition a major test of physical endurance, acclimatisation and mental resilience.
The team comprises 28 girl cadets with an average age of 19 years. The youngest participant is 16-and-a-half years old. The expedition is being led by three women officers representing the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Addressing the cadets at the flag-off ceremony, Rajnath Singh described their participation in the demanding trek as a testimony to the courage, determination and growing capabilities of the country’s women.
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He said adventure expeditions such as this help develop leadership qualities, discipline, teamwork, confidence and mental resilience among young people. He also urged the cadets to prioritise safety and environmental protection during the expedition.
The Raksha Mantri specifically called upon the team to adopt a zero-waste approach, avoid unnecessary risks and interact respectfully with communities along the route while learning about their culture and traditions.
The expedition has been planned in two phases. Before the final selection, NCC conducted a preparatory and acclimatisation trek in the Bhaba-Pin Valley sector of Himachal Pradesh. The final team was subsequently selected on merit.
The Himachal leg therefore forms an important part of the expedition’s preparation as well as its final route. The state’s high-altitude terrain will provide the cadets with an early test of endurance before they attempt the Parang La crossing.
The expedition has been conceptualised to promote Nari Shakti, leadership, self-confidence, teamwork, endurance and national integration among NCC girl cadets.
With participants drawn from NCC Directorates across the country, the expedition also seeks to showcase the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’, bringing together young women from diverse regions and cultural backgrounds for a common Himalayan challenge.
Director General NCC Lieutenant General Virendra Vats and senior officials of the NCC and Ministry of Defence were present during the flag-off.
For Himachal Pradesh, the expedition puts Spiti Valley and its high-altitude landscape at the centre of a major national youth adventure initiative, with Kibber serving as the gateway to the Parang La crossing.
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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
