Kodava woman makes Mysuru proud by scaling Kilimanjaro

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Mysuru: Preeth Appaiah, a resident of Bannimantap in Mysore City and a homemaker, had a sciatic nerve problem and doctors had advised her not to do any physical activity which would aggravate her pain. But after seeing her son Aryan Kuttappa going on an adventure in 2018 to the Himalayas, she got enthused and made her mark by hiking to Mt Brighu in 2018.

Since then she has become unstoppable and has climbed Mt Sarpass, the Valley of Flowers, and also tackled the Great Lakes of Kashmir. Her desire to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania was kindled in 2022 when a group of people from Mysuru successfully achieved the feat and returned with flying colors. The doctors advised her against it but her son Pratham Poonacha motivated her saying, “Mama, you can do it”.

She accepted the mentorship of Yoga Guru Mahadeva, took the yellow fever shot, set her rucksack in order and boarded the flight for Kilimanjaro. Preeth trekked through rain forests to Mandara Hut and from here she trekked to Horombo Hut from where she got an enticing view of the mountain.

On March 8th 2023, which incidentally was International Women’s Day, she made the ascent to the peak after walking for more than 10 hours. It was a proud moment, remarked Preeth. She also sprinkled a few colours on the summit as it was Holi on that day. She said the achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the support of her husband JM Aiyanna.