Standing on the summit of a mountain is only part of the total enjoyment and satisfaction that one achieves from mountaineering-and more so in the Indian Himalayas. For most people the Himalayan peaks are not climbable and visions of inaccessible mountains, howling winds, freezing cold and terrible disasters conjure in the mind. But for many it is a sport where having once gained the basic skills and attitudes, one can be in love with the mountains, passionately, enough to make the spouse jealous!

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Mountaineering is an adventure sport that requires skills and levels of fitness that few other adventure sports can match. 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 biggest mountain range in the world, the mighty Himalayas, which offer ample doses of challenge, adventure and risk.

 Mountaineering can usually be taken up in one of the two ways-either by trekking for a few years and then slowly graduating to climbing, or undergoing a course in mountaineering at one of the climbing institutes. These Institutes run Basic and Advance courses and for a duration of one month.

The Europeans introduced the sport of mountaineering in India in the 18th century. Though for many mountaineering is an adventure sport, there are others for who it is a serious hobby. For mountaineering caters to an atavistic human need to conquer difficult heights and discover new terrains. As a result of this, mountaineering and associated adventure sports have given us detailed pictures of the un-friendliest of Indian terrains. Today there are institutes that offer training programs for adventure seekers. For example the Directorate of Mountaineering & Allied Sports in Himachal Pradesh.

Anyone can take up mountaineering for holidaying with adventure though it is important to maintain a certain levels of physical fitness. People suffering from high/low blood pressure as well as overweight people should avoid participating in high-altitude games and sports. Ideally people between the 18 and 48 years of age should take up such adventure programs.

The country of India has been blessed with several mountain ranges that are ideal to pursue mountaineering. You can take your pick from the innumerable peaks in India and even choose your own trekking route for an adventure holiday in India. In case you are seriously planning an adventure filled holiday it is advisable to study maps that provide exhaustive material on the mountaineering trails in India. Mountaineering equipment is locally available along with the other support resources in most cases.

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Mountaineering is an ideal activity during the summers that lets you escape from the heat of the plains. However, the monsoons should be avoided since landslides are experienced in several parts of India due to the heavy rains. Some of the best mountaineering spots can be found in Himachal Pradesh, the Garhwal and Kumaon regions, Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, and the Northeast. Num and Kun, and the Zanskar range in Jammu and Kashmir are renowned summits with the mountaineers. Besides amateur mountaineers, technical climbing skills are put to test at Kishtawar at peaks that are as high as 6,500 m above ground level. Lahaul and Spiti in Leh, and the Kullu valley also have several challenging peaks. In India the peaks are categorized into open’, ‘virgin’, ‘border’, ‘trekking’, and ‘others’ and you can make several choices in each category.

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.