Mountaineering is the unblemished adventure, for the body and soul. It is an endeavor to reach the vault of heaven, and explore the sprit of fantasy. India offers a vital range of mountaineering opportunities on its challenging peaks - the climber enthusiast can indulge in this romantic adventure in mountain ranges of Ladakh, the Nun-Kun Massif, in Jammu and Kashmir, in hills of Manali in Himalayas and Uttranchal.

The Indian Himalaya or the `abode of snow' offer some great challenges and the finest climbs in the world of 6000 and 7000 metres. The main regions for this are Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and the recently opened Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

This zeal of adventurism found its ultimate fruition in the Himalayas-lofty, extremely difficult to conquer, and challenging enough to send a man back to his mother's womb. But, being men, these challenges were accepted and there began a tussle between men's ambitions and nature's reluctance. New heights were conquered, new routes were discovered, many lives lost, but the mission was accomplished. Today, almost all the major peaks are conquered and even general people have started taking mountaineering as a serious hobby.

Skills and levels of fitness are necessary for mountaineering. And a basic mountaineering course is a great way to take a vacation as well as get acquainted with India's greatest natural asset and the largest mountain range in the world, the mighty Himalayas, which offer ample doses of adventure, challenge and risk.

We would advise you to consider the following guidelines before opting for mountaineering: - Consider the level of difficulty with your physical fitness Participate in peak climbing or high-altitude trekking as may be comfortable.
- Get the medical fitness test done before hand
- Learn how to deal with High-altitude sickness or high-altitude madness
- Gain proper training of handling mountaineering equipment
- Carry the necessary medicines
- Follow mountaineering guidelines, high-altitude survival techniques, and first-aid techniques
- Protect yourself from snow blindness, frostbiting, and sun burning during the expedition
- Plan the holiday so that you have ample time for altitude acclimatization.
- With each stage of altitude increase prepare yourself gradually and never hurriedly.


Mountaineering Destinations in India
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 summits that are quite popular with the mountaineers are Num and Kun and the Zanskar range in Jammu and Kashmir. In Kishtawar, there are numerous peaks with altitudes up to 6,500 m that require technical climbing skills. In Himachal Pradesh, the areas of Lahaul and Spiti as well as the Kullu valley have several challenging peaks. The peaks in India have been classified as 'open', 'virgin', 'border', 'trekking', and 'other peaks'. Each category offers a number of choices.