Manali’s Sakshi Thakur scales 6,081-metre Shinkun East, hoists Tricolour amid tough weather
Shashi Bhushan Purohit
Manali (Himachal Pradesh), August 21, 2026: Himachal Pradesh’s mountaineering talent has once again made its mark as Sakshi Thakur, a mountaineer from Solang village in Manali, successfully summited the 6,081-metre Shinkun East Peak in the Lahaul region and hoisted the Tricolour at the summit on August 17.
Reaching a peak above 6,000 metres is considered a demanding mountaineering challenge, with climbers having to negotiate difficult terrain, low oxygen levels at high altitude, icy stretches and rapidly changing weather conditions.
Sakshi completed the ascent despite the challenging conditions, demonstrating determination and technical mountaineering skills during the expedition.
Her achievement has brought cheer to Solang village and the wider Manali region, with local residents celebrating the success of a young woman from Himachal in the adventure sports arena.
Shinkun East stands at 6,081 metres
Shinkun East is located in the mountainous region around Shinkun La, in an area connecting Lahaul with the Zanskar region. Records of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation list the peak at 6,081 metres, while Shinkun West is recorded at 6,127 metres.
The terrain around the peak can pose significant technical challenges, particularly as climbers gain altitude. Depending on conditions, mountaineering expeditions in the region may require equipment such as crampons, ice axes, ropes and other technical gear.
Peak has been climbed before
Sakshi’s achievement is significant, although Shinkun East is not a previously unclimbed peak.
Available mountaineering records indicate that the first recorded successful ascent of Shinkun East took place in September 2008, when a seven-member Indian team of the Himalayan Club reached the summit under the leadership of Subrata Chakraborty.
The team established its base camp at around 4,650 metres and an advanced camp at approximately 5,190 metres before negotiating rocky and icy sections to reach the summit.
Several other mountaineers have also subsequently climbed the peak.
In 2024, mountaineer Anjana Singh from Maihar in Madhya Pradesh was reported to have successfully scaled Shinkun East. She had earlier climbed Manali’s Friendship Peak.
In 2025, mountaineers Prince Jacob and Abraham Selvin from Munnar, Kerala, also reportedly reached the 6,081-metre summit. Their expedition involved around 60 members, with 18 climbers successfully making it to the top.
An advanced mountaineering course conducted by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, also saw a group of trainees hoist the Tricolour at Shinkun East in 2025. The expedition comprised 59 trainees and 15 training staff.
While Sakshi is not the first climber to conquer Shinkun East, her successful ascent on August 17 represents an important personal achievement and adds another name from Himachal to the region’s mountaineering community.
Her success could inspire more young people from Himachal’s mountain districts to explore mountaineering and adventure sports.
For Manali and the wider Lahaul-Spiti region, where adventure tourism and mountaineering already form an important part of the local landscape, such achievements also highlight the growing potential of local talent in high-altitude sports.