Arpita Patra, a professor in the Department of Computer Science and Automation at the Indian Institute of Science (IISC), is inspiring both students and colleagues with her ambitious goal of scaling all seven volcanic peaks around the globe. At 41 years old, she has successfully completed four of these challenging climbs over the past two years and aims to conquer the remaining three by 2026.
Among her targets are Mount Sidley, the tallest volcanic peak in Antarctica, and Mount Damavand in Iran. Her colleagues at IISC regard her as a source of motivation, similar to Prof G Madhavi Latha from the Civil Engineering Department, who contributed to the construction of the Chenab Railway Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mountaineering experts note a rising trend of individuals from various medical and corporate professions taking on summits. Patra, who joined IISC in 2014, shared, “While working, I could not resist the call of the mountains. I began to gradually build my stamina independently, without institutional support.” To enhance her skills, she participated in trekking expeditions in different countries for training and logistical support while acclimatizing for her climbs.
Furthermore, she completed a 21-day basic mountaineering course at the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) to increase her endurance. On October 24, 2025, she reached the summit of Pico de Orizaba (Citlaltépetl), standing at 5,636 meters, which is recognized as the highest volcanic peak in North America and the tallest mountain in Mexico. Patra made history as the second Indian woman and the first Bengali woman to achieve this feat.
Currently, Patra is engaged in a 10-day lecture series at Unam University in Mexico. To date, she has successfully climbed the highest volcanic peaks across four continents, including Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters) in Africa in July 2024, Mount Elbrus (5,642 meters) in Europe in August 2024, and Mount Giluwe (4,367 meters) in Oceania in May 2025. She also made history as the first Indian woman to ascend Mount Wilhelm, the highest peak in Papua New Guinea, while completing a half marathon in Ladakh at an altitude of 3,500 meters.
Describing her experience on Pico de Orizaba, Patra stated, “It was the most challenging climb. The ascent was technically demanding, involving glacier travel and a relentless 45-degree incline up the conical volcanic slope. On summit day, we gained nearly 1,450 meters of elevation, climbing from 4,200 meters to 5,636 meters via the Jamapa Glacier route on the northern face.”
