[10] The Government of India awarded him the third highest honour of the Padma Bhushan, in 1965, for his contributions to the sport of mountaineering.

[11][12] Born in 1923 at Kewzing, a south Sikkimese village at the foot of Kangchenjunga in Northeast India, Sonam Gyatso started his career in 1946 as a school teacher at Lachung, in the northern part of the state.

[10] His record stood for over 13 years till Pierre Mazeaud summitted the peak on 15 October 1978 at the age of 49.

[13][22] After two successful expeditions and before his second failed attempt on Everest, the Government of India awarded Gaytso the honor of the Padma Shri in 1962.

[12] The government followed it up with the higher award of the Padma Bhushan in January 1965, four months before his successful Everest climb in May.