India offers greatest mountaineering opportunities to those who live on adventure and high rush of adrenalin. The mighty Himalayas boast of spectacular and daunting peaks that have posed a challenge to men since times immemorial. Thousands of mountaineering expeditions have been led, many have been successful while some have been terrible disasters but this has never failed the enthusiasm and determination of die-hard mountaineers from trying again. Himalayas remain the single most coveted ranges for mountaineering across the world and the reasons are conspicuous enough. Himalayas are a home to some of the highest peaks like Mt Everest, Nanga Parbat, Kanchenjunga, Nanda Devi, Kamet and Dunagiri.

The mountaineering regions in India can be classified into following categories.: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal and Sikkim.

Let us give you a brief overview of some of the notable peaks in these regions

Jammu & Kashmir:
The northern state of Kashmir often described as the Paradise of Earth offers peaks like Kolahoi, Harmukh, Sickle Moon, Riger, Arjuna, Katori, Flat Top, Nun, Kun, Needle, Pinnale, Z1, Stock Kangri, Parcha Kangri and Kanglcha.

Himachal Pradesh:
Himachal Pradesh, home to a lovely hill station of Shimla has striking peaks like Hanuman Tibba, Manali and Shitidhar peak.

Uttranchal:
The state of Uttaranchal also known as the land of gods and home to Hindu pilgrimage centers has soaring peaks like Shivling, Meru, Kedarnath, Badrinath Bhaghrati, Nanda Devi, Trisul, Dunagiri, Kamet, Chaukhamba, Nilkanth and Bandarpoonch.

Sikkim:
The charming state of Sikkim holds the distinction of being a home to the world's third highest peak; the spectacular Kanchenjunga. The other peaks are Kabru, Kirat Chulior Tent Peak, Sinolchu, and Talung and Jonsong.

The best season for mountaineering expeditions is from May to October. Mountaineering requires medical fitness and special skills. It is recommended that one should undergo a basic course on mountaineering before actually hitting the mountains. Graduating gradually from trekking and then taking up the mountaineering is also a good idea.

Mountaineering is a test of one's endurance and determination in scaling the lofty pristine heights of the nature under harsh conditions. The call of the mountains is haunting, the list of mountaineers is growing day by day but this development must not have negative effects on the ecology. Both government and mountaineers need to be sensitive on the issue of ecology, which includes flora, fauna, and the settlements that should not be disturbed in wake of mountaineering.