Although the challenges Ravichandran faced last month were more difficult since eight of his fingers had to be amputated due to frostbite after his second ascent of Everest in 2007, he was not the least bit discouraged.

Known as “Ravi Everest”, Ravichandran said his mission to bring the Jalur Gemilang to the top of the 8,611m K2 kept him going, but that the climb turned out to be three times more difficult than climbing Mount Everest.

“We only had one day of good weather, which was on July 22. Every step I took to get to the top and back safely was very painful.

“Imagine, I cried three times during the 24-hour journey.

“I even had to urinate in my suit because there was no place for us to rest, eat and drink. There was nothing. For those 24 hours, we just walked.

“I was at the K2 peak for about 15 minutes, and it was a wonderful feeling. That was one of the best climbs ever for me, and it filled me with positivity and energy,” said Ravichandran, who spoke to the media at a teleconference from the Malaysian high commission in Islamabad.

He said the granite rock in K2 and the lack of snow forced climbers to use all their mountaineering experience and knowledge to overcome obstacles throughout the expedition.

“There were small stones flying at (us) at a speed of 200km/h. There were some areas that did not receive sunlight and formed ‘blue ice’.

“Situations like these require complex ‘alpine’ climbing techniques,” he said.

Ravichandran said that despite the “1,001 challenges” he faced, he achieved his mission of bringing the Jalur Gemilang to the top of K2, thanks to ample focus and mental strength as well as the help of fellow climbers.

He has now set his sights on conquering the 14 highest mountains in the world within three years, including Mount Annapurna I in Nepal and Broad Peak (K3), which is on the border of Pakistan and China.