Himalayan Mountaineering Institute - Darjeeling (HMI) 

 

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute - Darjeeling (HMI)      The people of India became interested in mountaineering   and it started becoming a popular organized sport event in India after scaling the summit of Mt. Everest in 1953 by late Tenzing Norgey of India and New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary. India’s first Prime Minister late Pandit Jawaharlal Neheru and then the Chief Minister of West Bengal late Dr. B.C.Roy personally got involved to establish the first Mountaineering Institute of India ( Himalayan Mountaineering Institute) in Darjeeling on 4th November, 1954. After establishing Himalayan Mountineering Institute became the hub of all mountaineering activities in India. The Swiss Foundation for Alpine Research was approached to prepare  a scheme for HMI. Late Tenzing Norgey honoured the HMI to became the first director of field training and late Major D.N.Dayan was the first principal.  Himalayan Mountaineering Institute has a museum for visitors which is enriched by extensive collection of rare photographs, maps, mountaineering  equipments and exclusive samples of flora & fauna of the Himalayas. Other than above collections the Institute has a collection of short films and documentaries for its students. This Institute has a rare collection of Hitler’s Telescope with which a visitor can watch the every spur of Mt. Kanchenjunga. This institute has become the landmark in Darjeeling, the queen of the himalaya and an important centre for major tourist attraction. The majestic view of Kanchenjunga massif from HMI is mesmerizing.