Chhanda Gayen (Bengali: ছন্দা গায়েন; 9 July 1979 – 20 May 2014)[1] was an Indian climber, martial artist, explorer, and teacher of self-defense.

She is best known for being the first, and fastest, Indian to climb two eight-thousanders, Mount Everest and Lhotse, in one go, which she did on 18 May 2013.

[2][3][4] She completed the traverse from the summit of Mount Everest to the summit of Lhotse in 22 hours.

Born in a Bengali Kayastha family on 9 July 1979, Gayen was awarded "Sera Avishkar" in Sera Bengali 2013 from ABP Ananda, at the age of 24.

[5][6][7][8][9] On 20 May 2014, she went missing along with two sherpas in an avalanche while descending from the summit of Kanchenjunga in Nepal.