99-year-old man returns from Himalayas, hopes to trek again next year

THRISSUR: Chithran Namboothirippad, who will turn 100 on January 6 next, has returned after completing his 30th annual trek to Himalayas. He says God willing, he wants to go Himalayas again. Prior to his departure, he had said this 30th trip would be his last.


Namboothirippad, who had left on September 25, returned on Sunday.

He left by a train from Thrissur and joined a team from Nagercoil . He said that the group first to Haridwar by train, and from there by road to Yamunothri, Kedarnath , Gangothri, and Badarinath.

He says he did not have much of health problem this time, though last time he had to be hospitalized for some days after the return trip as he had developed chest infection due to cold weather he was exposed to at Himalayas.

“There were as some minor breathing problems this time also, but I could recover fast,’’ Namboothirippad said.

“Usually, our Himalayan trip group used to comprise of 100 people only. However, this time there were demand for more bookings, and the group strength rose to over 140 people, including cooks and guides. But, the refreshing aspect of this trip was that all of them were genuinely interested in the pilgrimage. All of them were helpful to each other. We went up to about 13,000 ft above sea level, and whenever they saw me tired, they used to support,’’ he said.

Interestingly, Namboothirippad was invited to bless a Gadwali bride at Thriyugai Narayan Temple, in Rudraprayag . “This temple is the place where the wedding of God Siva and Goddess Parvathi had taken place. Relatives of the bride wanted me to bless her. She saluted me and I gave her some gift,’’ he said.

Asked what were his feelings when he scaled the peaks at this advanced age, he said, “I had the same feeling of sublime bliss when I reached the top. You feel the magnificence of the creator and the inconsequentiality of yourself, when you are in Himalayas. You feel you are just a tiny dot in this whole scheme of creations. You experience the primal links with the nature there,’’ he said.

Replying to questions on how he felt after completion of this 30th trek at the age of 100, he said: “I feel like going there next year also. I know my limitations and I’m taking risks by climbing this much height and exposing myself to the cold weather out there. I know people who come with me will also have to undertake some troubles. But Himalayas still attract me. When I left, I told them that God willing, I will come to the holy land again.”