The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) was started on November 4, 1954 to encourage mountaineering as an organized sport in India. The Institute was started at Roy Villa on Lebong Cart Road. It was shifted to its present location on the western spur of Birch Hill (Jawahar Parbat) in 1957.

The first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953 by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary sparked a keen interest in establishing mountaineering as a well respected endeavour for people in the region. With the impetus provided by the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, HMI was established in the Darjeeling region of the country, at an elevation of approx 6900ft. Tenzing was the first director of field training for HMI.

The Institute gives quality training within very affordable budget. The Institute is known for developing certain traits of personality which cannot be developed in the sheltered environment of schools and homes. The renowned public schools have realized the value of this training and have made it compulsory for their senior students to undergo 15 days adventure course before they leave the school. Junior students learn techniques of sport climbing and rock craft during small weekend courses organized by this institute on specific demands.