Twenty NCC girl cadets from across the country have successfully completed the ‘Aparajita – Parang La 2026’ All India Girls High Altitude Long Trek, traversing one of the most challenging high-altitude routes connecting Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
The 30-day expedition, covering approximately 250 kilometres, culminated at Karzok on September 16. The team crossed the Parang La Pass at an altitude of 5,578 metres, trekking from Kibber in Himachal Pradesh through the Spiti Valley to the Changthang region of Ladakh.
The expedition involved traversing demanding terrain, including glaciers, snowfields and river valleys. The cadets were accompanied by NCC officers, instructors, medical personnel and support staff throughout the expedition.
The trek was formally flagged off from New Delhi by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on August 18, 2026.
The expedition was flagged in at Karzok by Director General NCC Lt Gen Virendra Vats and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dipti Mohil Chawla.
Congratulating the cadets and staff on the successful completion of the expedition, Lt Gen Virendra Vats highlighted the role of such adventure activities in developing leadership, self-confidence, teamwork and endurance among young people.
Organised as a flagship NCC adventure activity, ‘Aparajita – Parang La 2026’ also aimed to encourage greater participation of young women in adventure activities, expose cadets to demanding high-altitude conditions and promote the spirit of national integration through an expedition involving youth from across the country.
