CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte woman is helping other women reach new heights.

What You Need To Know

  • Indu Vaidyanathan trains and takes people on high-altitude treks 

  • She started her business in 2019 and since then 80% of the trekkers have been women

  • She's taken people to Everest Base Camp, Machu Picchu and Mount Kilimanjaro

  • 10 Charlotte-area women of South Asian descent conquered Mount Kilimanjaro in February

Indu Vaidyanathan trains and takes groups on treks to high altitudes, and 80% of the trekkers have been women. 

Vaidyanathan is an avid hiker who has completed strenuous treks around the world, including Everest Base Camp, Machu Picchu and Mount Kilimanjaro. 

“I’ve always been a very curious person, trying to get out of my comfort zone and embrace challenges,” Vaidyanathan said. 

In 2019, she turned her passion into her business, creating Indus Treks. Back then, she took a group on a 15-day trek to the Everest Base Camp in Nepal, which is at 17,598 feet above sea level. 

“I trained them. I guided them with packing and also what’s going to happen during this journey,” Vaidyanathan said.

This includes altitude sickness, extreme weather, tough terrain and lack of electricity. 

The challenges didn’t deter Rakhi Nagrani from going on this adventure. 

“I wanted to try something challenging, because I wanted to be a role model for my kids,” Nagrani said. 

In February, Nagrani and nine other Charlotte women climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. 

The women, all of South Asian descent and ages 21 to 61, climbed around 19,000 feet above sea level. 

The youngest trekker, Rhea Bhagia, said the eight-day journey was empowering. 

“I never thought I could do something that was such high elevation and that pushed me to my limits there. Indu helped me believe in myself and conquer something I didn’t think I could do before,” Bhagia said. 

They trained for three months on Charlotte-area hiking trails, climbing 336 stairs back to back with weighted vests. 

“Cardiovascular and endurance are very critical. In Kilimanjaro we were walking for like 14 hours going up and coming down on summit night,” Vaidyanathan said.

Vaidyanathan, Bhagia and Nagrani said their reward included spectacular views, friendships and a life-changing experience. 

“These treks will teach you a lot of lessons like teamwork, resilience and power of determination, and I feel all these qualities I can utilize in my work and take up new challenges,” Nagrani said. 

Vaidyanathan believes they are the first women of Indian descent to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. 

Indus Treks also takes people to Machu Picchu in Peru. This year, they have at least two treks planned. 

Thus far, 50 people have gone on these adventures. 

During the journey, porters, guides and assistant guides accompany the group every step of the way.