Nine students from Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) decided to use their exam break to go on an adventure, that was more than just a road trip. They went on the Everest Base Camp Leadership Expedition, a challenging trek up to the Everest Base Camp.

It took them from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,860 m) and gradually up to Gorakshep (5,164 m). From there they took a short trip to the Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) where currently tents are being pitched for the upcoming climbing season. They also went to Kala Pathar (5,644 m), which gives a great view of the peak of Mount Everest. 

The students include second-year IIM-A students Anurag Katariya, Ankit Sinha, Nikhil Menon, Siddharth Biswas, Pallavi Awasthi, Preet Deep Singh, Suresh Anand, Neha Manglik and Aravindh PG. Katariya, Sinha and Arvind had conducted the journey between March 5 and 19. The second batch, comprising Avasthi, Menon, Singh and Biswas were in the base camp ten days ago, while the other two students, Anand and Manglik, are still there.

Anurag Kataria said, "Countless nights were spent trying to recollect the exact moment I accepted the idea My trip was not one of luxury or good food, and yet it was the most satisfying things I have done." 

"From blistered feet, ruptured knees, aching back, bruised shoulders, to a patched jaw, I lost 4 kg weight through feverish nights of biting cold, and the excruciating 130-km trek," he added

"Our guide was very apprehensive and he did not want us to continue. So we had to sign a liability form on the seventh day of our trip stating that if anything happens to us he would not be held responsible," Kataria said. "When we were trekking ahead, snowfall was still on. From the very first day, the temperature was below zero and at Gorakshep, the temperature was minus 25 degree celsius."