Man meets Mountain Mountains fascinate you and you are in India. What more, buy a ‘mast’ (cool) pair of mountaineering boots and buck up to scale the highest peaks on earth --- Mount Everest (World’s highest at 29,035 ft.), Kanchenjunga (3rd highest in world at 28,169 ft.), Annapurna (10th highest on earth at 26,545 ft.), Nanda Devi (21,000 ft). Time your trip between April to November and December to March. Himachal Pradesh, Garhwal and Kumaon regions of Uttar Pradesh, Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, Northeast India, and Sikkim are the most important mountaineering destinations in India.


The Mountaineering zones Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir: The Suru and Zanskar valleys are just the ones for the daredevils. Climbing clubs book the routes to the twin-peaks, Nun Kun Massif, well in advance. Kashmir, sandwiched between Pir Panjal and the Himalayas forms a fine base camp. Terrorist tensions are to be engraved, our representatives will suggest the best possible time and itinerary.

Manali, Himachal Pradesh: The area around Manali presently forms the core of mountaineering in Himachal. The Beas Kund region and lower reaches of the Hanuman Tibba (5,930m), the Manali and Shitidhar peaks around the source of the river Beas, and the Deo Tibba (6,001m) area, are suggested for beginners with some experience.

Garhwal & Kumaon, Uttaranchal: Some of the most challenging peaks - Nanda Devi, Trisul, Dunagiri, Kamet, Chaukhamba, Nilkanth, Bandarpoonch, etc. stand tall in this region of the Himalayas, making it a mountaineer’s favorite. The areas, include the Tons-Banderpunch region, the Gangotri glacier system, the Nanda Devi sanctuary (world’s highest, Arwa glacier area, Kamet and Abi Gamin. The roadheads for these at Taluka, Gangotri, Joshimath, and Malari, can be reached in two or three days from Delhi. At Nanda Devi is world’s highest steeped wildlife sanctuary.

Sikkim, Himalayas: With the 8,585 m (28,169 ft) high Kanchenjunga, third highest in the world, Sikkim is a mountaineer’s dream-come-true. The altitude is humbling and the beauty out-of-the-world. Sikkim’s other prides are Kabru, Kirat Chulior Tent Peak (7,365 m) and Sinolchu (6,887 m). Climbers opine Kanchenjunga is a more dangerous and hard to explore, than the Mount Everest (world’s highest in Nepal) itself.


Tidbits for beginners Institutes in India: Nehru Institute of Mountaineering at Uttarkashi, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute at Darjeeling, and the Western Himalayan Institute of Mountaineering at Manali. Institutes imparting rock-climbing trainings abound in India.

Types: Mountaineering routes are graded, according to the degree of difficulty and accessibility and in India the permanent snowline, generally being in the region of 5,200 m, the types are --- Moderate and Advanced.

Essentials: Equipments can be hired from the clubs or purchased. Carry Kerosene along for availability of wood cannot be guaranteed. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam has a full-fledged mountaineering and trekking division, based at Muni-ki-Reti, Rishikesh.

Important Formalities: The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) based at Delhi is the apex body to be contacted for all passes and permits in required areas. We get these arranged for you. All expeditions, whether Indian, foreign, or joint, are required to apply to the IMF, at least six months prior to departure, so that all the formalities are completed within the time frame.

Gear up: Mountaineering is one of those ‘dangerous’ sports and not everybody is eligible for it. Prior proper medical check-up is a must. Good judgment, teamwork and will-power are indispensable for a climber.

Take on the escapade with us --- we find you the best team and arrange for your essentials. The hills beckon the daredevils. Are you ready?