Published: 09:01 AM, 08 August 2026
IOE Kolkata Charts New Himalayan Rescue Route Linking Kedarnath and Triyuginarayan
Sanchita Biswas
In a significant achievement for Indian mountaineering, a seven-member expedition from Kolkata-based The Institute of Exploration (IOE) has discovered a previously undocumented Himalayan route that could serve as an emergency rescue corridor while also opening a new trekking trail linking Chaumasi, Kedarnath, Vasuki Tal and Triyuginarayan.
The team traversed an unnamed mountain pass at an altitude of 4,800 metres, located south of Shwet Parvat, before reaching Kedarnath. From there, they continued via Vasuki Tal and descended along the left bank of the Vasuki Ganga to Triyuginarayan, successfully completing what is believed to be the first recorded journey along this route.
The newly identified pass has been named "Chhanda Col" in memory of a missing mountaineer associated with IOE. Its GPS coordinates have been recorded at 30°44'39"N, 79°05'47"E.
The expedition was led by Sayantani Mahapatra and included Dr. Soumitra Koyal, M. Nabi Tarafdar, Raju Tung, Soma Chowdhury, Palash Roy and Dr. Koustav Mandal.
The team departed Kolkata on 19 May and reached Haridwar before beginning their trek from Chaumasi on 22 May. Following the Kaliganga River and crossing Khem Bugyal, they entered the high-altitude alpine zone where forests give way to boulder fields, glaciers and snow-covered terrain.
The explorers crossed the pass south of Shwet Parvat and arrived in the Kedarnath region on 26 May.
The journey beyond Kedarnath proved especially demanding. Traversing through Vasuki Tal and descending toward Triyuginarayan, the team negotiated steep rocky slopes, snowfields, dense forests and difficult river valleys. Along the route, they encountered signs of Himalayan wildlife, including snow leopards, Himalayan bears and deer, underscoring the ecological richness of the region.
As the descent continued, the snow gradually gave way to alpine vegetation, moss-covered rocks, waterfalls and thorny shrubs, marking a dramatic transition in the landscape. On 2 June 2026, after nearly two weeks in the mountains, the expedition reached the gateway to Triyuginarayan via Toshi, completing the exploration and establishing a new Himalayan route.
According to expedition member M. Nabi Tarafdar, the newly discovered trail has practical significance beyond adventure tourism. "This route could serve as an emergency rescue corridor for the Kedarnath and Vasuki Tal regions if required. It also offers trekkers an alternative route from Kedarnath to Triyuginarayan via Vasuki Tal", he added.
Throughout the expedition, the team was surrounded by spectacular Himalayan scenery, including snow-covered alpine lakes and panoramic views of the Yangbuk, Kedarnath and Vaisali peaks.
Sayantani Mahapatra: A Pioneer in Exploratory Mountaineering
Born in 1981 on the outskirts of Kolkata, Sayantani Mahapatra is a school teacher whose passion for the mountains began in childhood. Since undertaking her first Himalayan trek in 2016, she has focused on exploring lesser-known and historically significant routes. Her notable achievements include leading the exploration of Kunth Khal in 2021, reopening a route that had remained untouched for 45 years and identifying a new northwestern approach to Kang Yatse I (6,400 metres) in 2022. In 2024, she explored a potential emergency route linking Badrinarayan Temple and Kalpeshwar Temple.
With the successful completion of the latest expedition, Mahapatra is regarded as the first woman from West Bengal and among the very few women in India since Bachendri Pal to lead an exploratory Himalayan expedition that resulted in the discovery of a new route.
In addition to mountaineering, she contributes articles to The Himalayan Journal, Indian Mountaineer and other leading publications on exploration and mountain culture. Her guiding philosophy is simple yet enduring: "Since you've come, leave a mark."
Sanchita Biswas is a freelance
writer based in Kolkata.
