NEHRU INSTITUTE OF MOUNTAINEERING

Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) is rated as one of the best mountaineering institutes in India and also considered as the most prestigious mountaineering institute in Asia.

​

​The proposal to have a mountaineering Institute at Uttarkashi was mooted by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh in 1964. Uttarkashi was specially selected as the home of NIM, primarily because of its close proximity to the Gangotri region in western garhwal, which undoubtedly has the best climbing and training potential in India and perhaps in the world. Perched beautifully on the turtle back hill across the east bank of river Bhagirathi, the Institute overlooks the sacred town of Uttarkashi and the confluence of Indravati with the Bhagirathi. In a historic development in November 2001, with the newly formed State of "Uttaranchal" (now Uttarakhand) coming into existence, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand became the Vice President of the Institute.

​

The Institute was fortunate to receive patronage at the highest level at its inception from the Government of India and the government of Uttar Pradesh now the Government of Uttarakhand. The found fathers in Shri Y. B. Chauhan, then the Hon’ble Defence Minister of India and founder President NIM and Smt Sucheta Kriplani the then Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and founder Vice Prisident NIM, gave their unstinting support to the Institute. Brigadier Gyan Singh the first Principal of NIM with his wide experience gave a very strong footing to the Institute and nurtured it through its formative years, Late Shri H C Sarin, who was secretary of NIM for 22 long years, ensured that the Institute had all the bureaucratic support and the where with all for a premier national Institute.

​

The Institute took shape in 1965 at the Provincial Armed Constabulary Campus at Gyansu on the north bank of the river Bhagirathi. The present location, about 5 Km away across the Bhagitrathi River, was selected in 1970 by a team comprising Late Shri Harish Sarin (then Secretary), Captain M.S.Kohli and the architect, Mr. Rahman and NIM moved to its new location in 1974. It is now located at 4300 AMSL in the Ladari Reserve Forest, amidst a dense pine forest, overlooking the sacred river and the valley of gods. It has a sprawling campus, spread over almost seven hectares of prime forest land. In 2001, Tekhla Rocks an area of almost 3.5 hectares of Rock and boulders, area was added to the real estate of the Institute. The campus is extremely well laid out and excellently maintained. It offers its trainees a wide number of services catering to their ideal physical and mental development. The sylvan surroundings of the Institute and the exquisite natural surrounding have made NIM the Sanctum Sanctorum of all mountain and nature lovers.

 

The Institute is headed by a Principal who is handpicked officer by the Ministry of Defence. It has Training and an Administrative wing. The Training Wing comprises of the Vice Principal, the Medical Officer, the intrepid NIM instructional and Kitchen staff. The Administrative Wing which deals with account, rations and equipment are looked after by the Registrar and the Equipment Officer, respectively.