Pune: In a rare achievement, two-year-old Rayaji Ghare from Ozarade village, Maval Taluka, has become the youngest climber to scale Salher Fort, Maharashtra’s tallest fort, and Kalsubai Peak, the highest point in the state, in just 17 days. His remarkable feat has earned him a place in the India Book of Records, and an application has been submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Conquering Maharashtra’s Highest Fort and Peak
Rayaji embarked on his mountaineering journey with his parents and successfully climbed Salher Fort on January 11. This fort, located in the Dolbari mountain range in Nashik’s Satana Taluka, stands at 1,567 meters (5,141 feet) above sea level. He started his trek at 7 AM and completed it in just 4.5 hours.
Fifteen days later, Rayaji took on an even greater challenge—scaling Kalsubai Peak, known as the Everest of Maharashtra. He successfully reached the 1,646-meter (5,400 feet) summit, making him one of the youngest climbers to achieve this feat.
Scaling Girnar Guru Shikhar in Gujarat
Rayaji’s climbing journey did not stop there. On March 2, he conquered Girnar Guru Shikhar Mountain in Gujarat, standing at 3,757 feet. He reached the top in 5 hours and 9 minutes, adding another major climb to his list of achievements.
A Record-Breaking Trekking Journey
Within 50 days, Rayaji successfully completed climbs to Salher Fort, Kalsubai Peak, and Girnar Guru Shikhar, becoming the youngest child to complete three significant climbs in such a short period. His father, Sudhir Ghare, stated that the Guinness World Records team is reviewing his achievement for possible recognition.
Rayaji’s passion for forts began early. At just 1 year and 8 months old, he started his trekking journey on November 14, 2023, by climbing Raigad Fort, the legendary fort of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. His parents aim to visit and explore more than 350 forts from the era of Shivaji Maharaj.
