“Some journeys are not about reaching the highest point, but about believing you belong there.”
The air thins as the road climbs higher. Engines hum against the silence of the mountains. Wrapped in riding gear, five women stand at over 14,000 feet, smiling into the cold wind at Nathula Pass.
Among them is a 76-year-old woman who has just completed one of India’s toughest high-altitude rides.
For this group of women bikers from Bengaluru, the journey was never about proving a point. It was about showing up, trusting their bodies and minds, and choosing to ride on — even when the road demanded more than comfort.
High-altitude routes are often seen as unforgiving, testing endurance, experience and mental strength. For women riders, the doubts tend to arrive even earlier.
Challenging these long-held assumptions, five women from Bengaluru decided to take on Nathula Pass, a demanding mountain route near the India–China border that pushes even seasoned motorcyclists to their limits.
The expedition was part of CRF Women on Wheels, an all-women riding collective founded in 2016 by Fais N. Over the years, the group has trained more than 1,000 women riders across India, steadily redefining who belongs on the open road.
This journey reflected that mission in motion.
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Riding alongside experienced bikers Swapna Kaniti, Anitha Karshyap and Sesha Nagesh were Seema Warrier and her 76-year-old mother. With silver hair visible beneath her helmet and a calm focus through every stretch of the ride, the elderly participant became a powerful presence within the group.
Together, the women completed the ascent to Nathula Pass, standing more than 14,000 feet above sea level. At the summit, fatigue gave way to quiet celebration as they embraced one another and posed with the national flag.
The road from Bengaluru to the high passes was anything but easy. The group travelled through Sikkim, Nepal and Bhutan before the final ascent, navigating steep gradients, freezing temperatures and oxygen-thin air.
At such altitudes, the body is constantly tested. Headaches, breathlessness, dizziness and fatigue are common, and many riders depend on supplemental oxygen. Each stretch of road becomes a lesson in patience, resilience and trust.
Yet, in videos from the journey, the women appear energised and joyful. Thanking the Border Roads Organisation for the smooth roads, one rider shared, “We are so happy to be here. Yesterday’s ride was easy and beautiful. The BRO has done an incredible job.”
For these five women, the climb to Nathula Pass stands as a quiet reminder that adventure does not belong to a certain age or gender. It belongs to those who choose to ride on, no matter how high the road rises.
Source / Image Credit : The Better India ,sanmarg.aparajita
