HISTORICAL BACKGROUND :

        After the successful ascent of  Mount Everest on 29th May 1953 , by Late Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary , the mountaineeringin India got impetus.Consequently the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was established on  4th  November 1954 by  personal  initiative of  Late Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru the first Prime Minister of India and Dr.B.C.Roy the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, which was then the hub center of all mountaineering activities in India.
      Late Maj N.D. Jayal was the first Principal whereas Late Tenzing Norgay was the Director of Field Training of the institute.
      The institute is located at an altitude of 6,800 feet above sea level.

AIM OF THE INSTITUTE :

  The object of the institute as contained in Memorandum of Association is as under

"The object of the institute will be to encourage and promote the science and art of mountaineering among -

a ) Its members , including honorary , associate and life members , and
b ) Such outsiders as may be especially enrolled as students by the Executive Council for the purpose , for a specified term or terms , in order that the enterprising member of the community may take a healthy interest in the development of mountaineering activities in the Himalayan and Karakoram range as the sport or as scientific pursuit."