Remember when Bunny and Naina from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani reached a summit and were simply too stunned by the gorgeous views? The sheer joy of scaling new heights and the euphoria of taking in the views from a summit – these are feelings one simply can’t express in words. If you too are an adrenaline junkie and wish to scale the mountains – but don’t know where to begin, here are the top 3 institutes to learn mountaineering!
Basics Of Mountaineering Courses
Before we delve deeper into the top 3 institutes to learn mountaineering, it is important to understand the basic courses you can complete to hone this skill. Every institute offers what is called a Basic Mountaineering Course or BMC and Advanced Mountaineering Course or AMC. If you plan to become a mountaineer or enter the adventure sports or adventure tourism industry, it is essential that you complete these courses.
Speaking of the courses, you must first complete the BMC to be eligible for an AMC, as well as other advanced courses in Method of Instruction and Search and Rescue. Here are more details:
Basic Mountaineering Course
A basic mountaineering course or a BMC is the foundation of your mountaineering skills – it introduces new trainees to the world of mountaineering. In this course, you’ll receive basic orientation as well as participate in mountaineering-related activities. You’ll get to learn about different mountaineering equipment, outdoor survival, expedition planning, mountaineering awareness, and other necessary skills. Trainees who are a part of a BMC also take part in real expeditions, treks, and a climb to a peak or a point as part of the training.
Advanced Mountaineering Course
Trainees can be a part of the Advanced Mountaineering Course or AMC only after they successfully complete the BMC. This course, as the name suggests, is a slightly advanced course that will offer you more information as well as practical skills to hone your mountaineering. With more emphasis on leadership, expedition planning, emergency management, and peak climbing, an AMC is a level-up from the BMC in the truest sense.
Also note that as mountaineering institutes in India and the seats within them for mountaineering courses are limited, getting a seat can depend on the wait time. Most institutes have a waiting period that ranges anywhere between 6 months to 2 years! Admission is mostly given on a first come first serve basis but the wait time is where you must be patient if you wish to truly go into the world of mountaineering.
Top 3 Institutes To Learn Mountaineering: Fees. Courses, And More
Nehru Institute Of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi (NIM)
NIM is one of the most premier institutes of mountaineering in the country as well as Asia. Established in 1965, the institute has conducted 750+ courses and trained more than 30,000 mountain trainees. It is strategically located in Uttarkashi as it is in close proximity to the famed Gangotri glacier, a high-potential climbing and training spot. The NIM offers mountaineering courses as well as adventure courses, skiing courses, sport climbing as well as yoga courses.
Address: PCCM+G6V, Uttarkashi, Barahat Range, Uttarakhand 249193
Contact: 7060-717-717
| Name of the course | Course fee (INR) | Duration | Age bracket |
| Basic Mountaineering Course | 24,805 | 28 days | 16 to 55 years |
| Advanced Mountaineering Course | 24,805 | 28 days | 18 to 42 years |
| Search and Rescue Course | 24,805 | 21 days | 19 to 45 years |
| Method of Instruction Course | 24,805 | 21 days | 19 to 45 years |
National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS)
The National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) is the most newly inaugurated mountaineering institute that opened in 2013. The sprawling 38-acre campus offers trainees a chance to not only try their hand at mountaineering but also various other skills like scuba diving, mountain biking, white water rafting, paragliding, as well as paramotoring. Here are the key mountaineering courses offered at the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports.
Address: c/o 99 APO, Dirang Village, Arunachal Pradesh 790101
Contact: info@nimasdirang.com/91-9774731855
| Name of the course | Course fee (INR) | Duration | Age bracket |
| Basic Mountaineering Course | 27,090 | 28 days | 17 to 40 years |
| Advanced Mountaineering Course | 30,010 | 32 days | 17 to 40 years |
| Search and Rescue Course | 24,170 | 21 days | 17 to 40 years |
| Method of Instruction Course | 44,000 | 28 days | 17 to 40 years |
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI)
The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling, West Bengal is another premier institute that was established soon after the historic ascent of Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary to the Everest Summit in 1953. It was the result of the ambitious plan of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, to have a premier mountaineering institute that would help the youth of the country to channel their passion for mountaineering effectively. Today, HMI is one of the most significant institutes in the country and offers courses in mountaineering as well as rock climbing. It also offers courses for the visually impaired and the underprivileged sections of society.
Address: Jawahar Parbat, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734101
Contact: +91 76022 15312
| Name of the course | Course fee (INR) | Duration | Age bracket |
| Basic Mountaineering Course | 24,802 | 28 days | 17 to 45 years |
| Advanced Mountaineering Course | 24,802 | 28 days | 17 to 45 years |
| Search and Rescue Course | 24,802 | 23 days | 17 to 45 years |
| Method of Instruction Course | 24,802 | 23 days | 17 to 45 years |
Summing Up
These three mountaineering institutes in India offer the best mountaineering courses at reasonable fees. If climbing the mountains and taking the lesser-taken path gives you a dopamine boost, we think you should totally spare some time and participate in these courses. After all, a skill gained is never wasted!
