Founded in 1928, The Himalayan Club is the oldest mountaineering club in India and is now proudly heading towards its centenary year. We are not just another group of mountain enthusiasts but a historical institution that has played a pioneering role in Himalayan exploration. Over the decades, our members have led landmark expeditions, produced authoritative literature, and celebrated the rich culture of the Himalaya. Equally, the Club has extended support to the mountain people through education, livelihood initiatives, and respect for their unique traditions.
The Himalayan Club Facebook Group was created on 6th November 2008 by our members to promote our founding objective:
“To encourage and assist Himalayan travel and exploration, and to extend the knowledge of the Himalaya and adjoining ranges through science, art, literature and sport.”
In 2017 – Deepa Balsavar mentions in HJ/72/4 – “On 6 November, 2008, The Himalayan Club started the Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheHimalayanClub/ to provide a forum for information and the sharing of experiences, photographs, news and articles. Not restricted to members of the Club, the group has proved immensely popular, and at the time of writing this article it boasts of over 2,65,000 followers with numbers growing every day.
The arduous task of actively engaging with group members, providing information and monitoring for spam, commercial or political interests is carried out by a dedicated team of 21 administrators. They devote hours each day to ensure that the feeds remain clean, relevant, focused and informative. While their role is often appreciated by followers of the group, here is an excerpt from a recent Facebook post that gladdens the heart :
My day typically used to start at 4 a.m. After a cuppa I am ready to tackle my day’s work. I work for US company hence the odd work hours. At the end of the working day, I used to be on Facebook or dream about places that I would like to explore. I would say pretty dull day.
Everything changed since the day I stumbled upon ‘The Himalayan Club’. Now my day starts with a cuppa with the mountains (virtual) . . .
. . . Hats off to the admins and moderators for their love towards these beautiful mountains. Their work is selfless; they strive relentlessly to enrich the club.
The Himalayan Club = Nature class + Photography school + History class + Geography class.
I am so glad I am part of The Himalayan Club. Thank you.”
The Journey Today
From those beginnings, the group has now grown exponentially. Today, we are over 1 million strong and counting. With this growth, we continue to evolve – adopting new strategies, innovative methods of group management, and best practices in outdoor engagement.
As we look ahead, the Club’s online presence is not just about sharing the beauty of the Himalaya, but also about exploring solutions to the challenges the mountains face – from climate change and waste management to preserving culture and livelihoods. The Facebook Group remains a vibrant forum where mountain lovers across the world can learn, share, and come together for the future of the Himalaya.
Presence in the Digital World
+1928 – The Himalayan Club is founded – the oldest mountaineering club in India, pioneering Himalayan exploration, expeditions, and literature.
+Early 2000s – Digital beginnings – The Club creates a Yahoo! discussion group, one of the earliest online forums for Himalayan knowledge-sharing.
+2008 – Shift to Facebook – On 6th November 2008, the community moves from Yahoo! to Facebook, creating a vibrant global forum for explorers, trekkers, climbers, and mountain lovers.
+2017 – Recognition in Himalayan Journal (HJ/72/4) – Deepa Balsavar notes the group’s rapid rise to 2,65,000 members, with dedicated administrators keeping it active, clean, and informative. Followed by Instagram, Linkedin and Youtube pages.
+2025 – 1 Million Members & Growing – Today the group has crossed 1 million followers, making it one of the world’s largest mountain communities online.
+2028 – Centenary Year – The Himalayan Club celebrates 100 years of exploration, literature, cultural exchange, and support for mountain people.