Founded in 1954, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute has provided training to some of India's leading mountaineers. The basic objective of the institute is to encourage Indian youth to participate in and propagate adventure activities, while also educating people on the natural beauty of the Himalayas.

It runs a 28-day basic and advanced mountaineering course from March to May and September to December. Courses on search and rescue, adventure, advance mountaineering, and special classes for the visually challenged are offered here. Regular expeditions to such challenging peaks as Kamet (7,758 m), Sakang (7,317 m), Rathong (6,679 m), Gorichen (6,488 m), Chomulhari (7,362 m) and the highest one in the world Mount Everest (8,848 m) are organised by the institute.

Other fascinating attractions of this institute include a Mountaineering Museum that houses sundry details and memorabilia from the 1922 and 1924 Mount Everest expeditions. A statue dedicated to Tenzing Norgay, said to be the first person to climb to the highest point of Mount Everest, can be found on campus.