Businessman Ram Gopal Kothari Becomes First Indian To Complete Easter Island's Volcano Marathon

Entrepreneur and avid traveller Ram Gopal Kothari has added another remarkable achievement to his growing list of adventures, becoming the first Indian to complete the Volcano Marathon on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in Chile, one of the world's most remote inhabited islands.

The feat comes less than a year after the 45-year-old Kolkata-based businessman became the first Indian to complete a marathon at the Geographic North Pole , underscoring his passion for combining exploration with endurance challenges.

Kothari, who has visited 80 countries , said his motivation stems more from a desire to discover unique destinations than from competitive running. The journey to Easter Island involved travelling more than 24,000 kilometres from India , via Mumbai, Istanbul and Santiago, before reaching the isolated Pacific island famous for its mysterious Moai statues and dramatic volcanic landscape.

Describing his fascination with the destination, Kothari said Easter Island had long been on his bucket list. When he learned that adventure marathon organiser Runbuk hosted the Volcano Marathon there, he decided to combine his love for travel with another demanding endurance event.

Unlike his North Pole expedition, Kothari approached this race with extensive preparation. He completed several long-distance training runs of up to 30 kilometres and focused on building endurance for the marathon's challenging terrain, which includes nearly 600 metres of elevation gain . His training involved repeated ramp runs at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium and inclined treadmill sessions designed to simulate steep climbs.

Kothari credited Vikas Duggar , captain of the North Kolkata Runners group, for helping shape his preparation. Duggar advised him on hill training and the effective use of energy gels during long-distance runs, guidance that proved valuable on race day.

The marathon presented significant challenges. While the opening section was run on paved roads with continuous elevation changes, the latter stages took participants through rugged volcanic trails filled with loose rocks, potholes and uneven surfaces. The steep climb to the Rano Kau volcanic crater emerged as the toughest part of the race.

Despite the physical demands, Kothari described the course as one of the most beautiful he has encountered, featuring wild horses, valleys of yellow flowers and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.

Looking ahead, Kothari plans to return to Antarctica in November to attempt a 24-hour ultra marathon , aiming to cover 120 kilometres in temperatures that could plunge to minus 40 degrees Celsius, a feat no Indian has achieved so far.