The National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh, has achieved a major milestone in Indian mountaineering by successfully completing a first-ascent expedition to 20 previously unclimbed peaks in Ladakh, each rising above 6,000 metres. The expedition recorded 20 first-ever summits in a span of just 23 days.
Located in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, NIMAS is a premier Government of India institution under the Ministry of Defence. It is the country’s only institute offering comprehensive training and expedition activities across land, air and water-based adventure sports.
The institute conducts programmes in mountaineering, sport climbing, paragliding, paramotoring, mountain biking, white-water rafting, kayaking and scuba diving, and has emerged as an important centre for adventure sports, training and youth development in the Northeast.
The Ladakh expedition marks another significant achievement in NIMAS’s growing record of exploration and high-altitude mountaineering. Successfully attempting 20 unclimbed peaks in a short period demonstrates the technical expertise, physical endurance, planning and expedition leadership required to operate in some of the most remote and challenging terrain of the Himalayas.
The achievement also highlights the growing contribution of the Northeast to India’s adventure sports landscape. An institution based in the mountainous region of Arunachal Pradesh has demonstrated its ability to undertake complex expeditions in distant Himalayan terrain while providing young Indians with opportunities to pursue excellence in mountaineering and other adventure disciplines.
The expedition reflects the broader emphasis on fitness, discipline, teamwork, resilience and outdoor exploration. It also aligns with the spirit of the Fit India movement by encouraging young people to embrace physical activity, adventure and exploration while developing qualities such as perseverance and leadership.
The expedition was conducted under the leadership of Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal, Director, NIMAS. With this achievement, NIMAS has recorded its third consecutive world record in the past three years, further strengthening its position among India’s leading institutions in adventure sports and expedition leadership.
From Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh to the high-altitude mountains of Ladakh, NIMAS’s latest achievement underscores the potential of the Northeast as a centre for adventure sports, exploration, youth development and mountaineering excellence.
The successful completion of 20 first ascents in 23 days marks a significant milestone for NIMAS and is a notable achievement for Arunachal Pradesh, the Northeast and India’s mountaineering community.
(PRO Defence)
