When the mountains echoed: How 18-year-old Mehreen became youngest to conquer winter Spiti
There are some roads that take you places and then there are others that transform you. For 18-year-old Mehreen, it was both. Not only did young Mehreen travel across the Spiti Valley in the dead of winter, she also carved her name into the mountains, becoming the youngest woman ever to drive through the treacherous Spiti winter circuit.
Mehreen’s drive, now in the India Book of Records, is a tale of dreams that get ingrained early in childhood. It all began in Greater Noida, where Mehreen and her father picked up their Maruti Suzuki Jimny—her 18th birthday gift—for an expedition unlike any other.
The start of their trip was Kufri, Himachal Pradesh, where the Mountain Goat Team (the company behind the expedition) had arranged for the drive of a lifetime—a week through the narrow roads of Spiti. Supported by Suraj Tayal and Shashwat Gupta, co-founders of the Mountain Goat team, Mehreen was ready to test her limits, and maybe, find out how far she could really go.
The Mountains Were Always Calling
Mehreen’s love for travel was seeded early. “My love for travelling and driving comes from childhood memories,” she told India Today, in an exclusive interview.
“We used to take family trips to the mountains, and my father always drove. I had visited Spiti in summer three times before when I was a child.”
Soon after getting her license, her father floated the idea of driving through the roads of Spiti. Despite the idea of the daunting task, Mehreen did not flinch. She replied to her father with a resounding yes, and off they went.
This time was different. The challenge wasn’t just about covering the distance—it was about doing so in sub-zero temperatures, on frozen roads, in one of the harshest terrains in India. Until this trip, Mehreen had never driven in the mountains. But with the Jimny automatic and her father’s calm voice guiding her through every switchback and slope, she took the leap.
“The drive from Kufri to Rampur was easy,” she said. “Rampur to Kaza was manageable too, but things had gotten a little tricky after Nako,” Mehreen revealed.
The scenery of Kaza was the first reward for Mehreen. When they woke up after a good night’s sleep, it had snowed in. The temperatures were freezing, but like they say, there are very few things in the world more beautiful than a snow-laden Kaza.
From Kaza, the real test began. A drive to Hikkim and Komic turned into a battle with a snow blizzard. Often the most testing drives bring out the greatest rewards. For Mehreen, it was her first look at the Himalayan Ibex, a rare animal, which is also the pride of Spiti.
“The weather was brutal, but it was worth it. In Hikkim, I saw a herd of ibexes climbing impossible slopes. They inspired me. I was sad I couldn’t spot a snow leopard—but the ibexes gave me all the motivation I needed.”
Training Ground for Dakar?
The trip was not just a personal milestone. It was also a test of grit and raw skill. Shashwat Gupta, the trip organiser and co-founder of Mountain Goat, was blown away by Mehreen’s performance.
“She comes from a strong DNA,” he said. “Her dad, Dharam Paaji, is an excellent driver. He was in our backup team during our Kerala to Umling La record drive. He told me, ‘I’m buying my daughter a Jimny for her 18th birthday—I want her to be the youngest to do a Spiti winter expedition.’”
And she did.
Speaking to India Today, Mehreen spoke of her goals, although not set in stone. She said that the Spiti trip fuelled her love for driving and her wanderlust for incredible sceneries. She hoped that one day she would drive at the Dakar Rally, one of the most popular off-road expeditions in the world.
Not only did she dream of participating in it, but she also wanted to become the first ever Indian woman to win it.
But can she? Mountain Goat’s Shashwat was quite confident about it. Shashwat in fact gave an incredible account of her skills, which perhaps she was herself too shy to admit.
“I absolutely think she can do the Dakar Rally,” Shashwat said. “In Jalori, there was black ice downhill for about 3–4 km. Most drivers parked and abandoned their cars. Mehreen drove all the way down. We’re always scared of Jalori—even on a sunny day.”
That stretch—from Kalpa to Manali via the treacherous Jalori Pass—was arguably the hardest part of the journey. With fading light and roads coated in invisible sheets of ice, it became a battle of nerves.
“My mom called and begged us to stop,” Mehreen said. “But my dad and I had made up our minds—either we reach Manali, or we’re found at the edge of the mountain.”
It was her father’s experience, paired with Mehreen’s growing confidence, that saw them through. She mastered the art of driving in low-range gears, controlling the Jimny carefully without relying on brakes. That night, when she finally reached Manali and lay down to sleep, she says it was the deepest sleep she’d ever had.
Record Breaker, Trailblazer
Mehreen became the youngest woman to drive across the Spiti circuit in winter—an achievement now officially recognised by the India Book of Records. And she did it without snow chains, in conditions most seasoned drivers would hesitate to face.
Along the way, she collected memories like trophies: a postcard from Hikkim, the highest post office in the world; a photograph at Komic, the highest motorable village; and blessings at the ancient Key Monastery. But it wasn’t just the landmarks. It was what the journey taught her.
Shashwat sees something special in Mehreen—not just talent, but purpose.
“Her father wants her to be raised like a warrior,” he said. “Not someone who stays home and cooks. And you know what? The child will only learn what the father teaches. He’s building a trailblazer.”
Mehreen’s journey is more than a story of high passes and frozen roads. It’s a story of courage, mentorship, and vision. A reminder that sometimes, all it takes is one brave step—and a steady hand on the wheel—to start rewriting what’s possible.
