The Himalayan Club is the only international body interested in mountaineering in the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kush and has a global membership of over 900, amongst them some of the most eminent mountaineers in the world.

The Club was founded in 1928 "for the promotion of science and literature and the diffusion of useful, knowledge and in particular to encourage and assist Himalayan travel and exploration, to extend knowledge of the Himalaya and adjoining mountain ranges and to collect, classify and publish descriptions of Himalayan routes and other information relating to the Himalaya".

a) Enables all those scattered over the globe and interested in mountaineering in the world's highest ranges to maintain contact and share the wide experience they have accumulated.

b) Actively encourages Youth to take to trekking, hiking and mountaineering as a hobby and a sport.

c) Plays a role in the conservation of the mountain environment and the extension of wider interest in scientific topics - geological, ornithological and ecological.

1. The Himalayan Journal - read all over the world, is the only definitive record of activity in the Himalaya drawing upon the resources of contributors, principally in terms of climbs and expeditions. The Journal is supplemented by a yearly Newsletter.

2. The Himalayan Club Library - housed at the Indian International Centre at New Delhi, is probably the most complete collection of books and journals written on the Himalaya, and is a unique Reference Library.

3. Equipment on hire- the Club maintains at Bombay, Calcutta and Delhi, a number of tents, rucksacks and sleeping bags for hire at nominal rates to members. Efforts are being made to increase this inventory and open additional storage depots at other strategic locations. If you would like to download the form to hire equipment from the club, please click here

4. Maps - the Government of India has released to the Club a number of 1/4" and 1/2" scale maps of the Himalaya for loan to its members. The Survey of India has also been approached to prepare special trekking maps of selected areas for unrestricted release.

5. Information Centre - the Club endeavours to provide to its members current information on restrictions, routes, porterage rates, facilities etc. to any given area in the Himalaya, as well as give technical advice on request.

6. Assistance with authorities - with the help of Honorary Local Secretaries at important entry points to the Himalaya, the Club maintains liaison with local authorities and can assist members with climbing permits, passes for using State Rest Houses and Forest Bungalows, etc. The Club also maintains a close relationship with the Indian & Nepalese authorities controlling mountaineering and trekking activities.

7. Selection & standardisation of equipment - the Club is endeavouring to draw up standard specifications for India - manufactured mountaineering equipment and can assist members in the purchase and certification of such equipment.

8. Meeting - the Club centres regularly arrange film shows and talks by well-known mountaineers and members of current expeditions. Annual Reunion Dinners are planned in each country to enable Himalayan mountaineers to meet and exchange experience.

In order to give you a better idea of the activities of the club, please read the following section which is a summary of our activities during the year 2006.

The Himalayan Club Activities 2006