Nehru Institute of Mountaineering
Encyclopedia
The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) is rated as one of the best mountaineering institutes in India and also considered a prestigious mountaineering institute in Asia.
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 Uttarakhand coming into existence, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand became the Vice President of the Institute.
The Institute was fortunate to receive patronage from the highest level since its inception from the Government of India, the government of Uttar Pradesh and 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 then the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and founder Vice Prisident NIM, gave their unstinted 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 NIM for 22 long years, ensured that the Institute had all the bureaucratic support and the facilities needed 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 Kms 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. NIM moved to its new location in 1974. It is now located at 4300 ft altitude 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, Tekla Rocks, an area of almost 3.5 hectares of Rock and boulders, area was added to the real estate of the Institute. The Institute is now in the process of acquiring a NIM Beach in Rishikesh for conducting its adventure training on the river Ganges. The campus is well laid out and meticulously 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 mountain and nature lovers.
In 1989, Col. J.K.Bajaj (credited as Col. V.K.Bajaj in some articles), the principal head of NIM, was part of India's second expedition to Antarctica. He also visited the South Pole that year as part of an international expedition.
History
The proposal to have a mountaineering Institute at UttarkashiUttarkashi
Uttarkashi, meaning Kashi of the north, is a holy town in Uttarakhand, India. It is the district headquarter of Uttarkashi district. Uttarkashi is situated on the banks of river Bhagirathi at an altitude of 1352 m above sea level. Uttarkashi is home to a number of ashrams and temples and also to...
was mooted by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
and the Government of Uttar Pradesh
Government of Uttar Pradesh
The Government of Uttar Pradesh is a democratically elected body with the Governor as the constitutional head. The Governor of Uttar Pradesh who is appointed for a period of five years, appoints the Chief Minister and his council of ministers...
in 1964. Uttarkashi was specially selected as the home of NIM, primarily because of its close proximity to the Gangotri region in western Garhwal
Garhwal Division
Garhwal is the north-western region and administrative division of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand which is home to the Garhwali people. Lying in the Himalayas, It is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by Kumaon region, on the south by Uttar Pradesh state, and on the north-west by...
, 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 Uttarakhand coming into existence, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand became the Vice President of the Institute.
The Institute was fortunate to receive patronage from the highest level since its inception from the Government of India, the government of Uttar Pradesh and 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 then the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and founder Vice Prisident NIM, gave their unstinted 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 NIM for 22 long years, ensured that the Institute had all the bureaucratic support and the facilities needed 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 Kms 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. NIM moved to its new location in 1974. It is now located at 4300 ft altitude 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, Tekla Rocks, an area of almost 3.5 hectares of Rock and boulders, area was added to the real estate of the Institute. The Institute is now in the process of acquiring a NIM Beach in Rishikesh for conducting its adventure training on the river Ganges. The campus is well laid out and meticulously 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 mountain and nature lovers.
In 1989, Col. J.K.Bajaj (credited as Col. V.K.Bajaj in some articles), the principal head of NIM, was part of India's second expedition to Antarctica. He also visited the South Pole that year as part of an international expedition.
See also
- Himalayan Mountaineering InstituteHimalayan Mountaineering InstituteThe Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was established in Darjeeling, India on November 4, 1954 to encourage mountaineering as an organized sport in India. The first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953 by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary sparked a keen interest in establishing mountaineering as a...
- Chennai Trekking ClubChennai Trekking ClubThe Chennai Trekking Club is a voluntary nonprofit organization whose members meet weekly for Outdoor recreation, Environmental education and Social responsibility activities. The club was established on February 22, 2008 by a small group of trekking enthusiasts in Chennai, India...
- Indian Antarctic ProgramIndian Antarctic ProgramThe Indian Antarctic Program is a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional program under the control of the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. It was initiated in 1981 with the first Indian expedition to Antarctica...