Giripremi
Mountaineering for Happiness | |
| Formation | 1982 |
|---|---|
| Type | Public charitable trust |
| Purpose | Promotion of mountaineering |
| Headquarters | Pune, Maharashtra, India |
President | Jayant Tulpule |
Key people | Ushaprabha Page, Anand Palande, Umesh Zirpe, Jayant Tulpule, Ashish Mane, Jitendra Gaware, Krishna Dhokle |
| Website | www |
The Giripremi is a public charitable trust and mountaineering club based in Pune, Maharashtra, India. Founded in 1982, it is one of the leading mountaineering organisations in the country and is the only Indian club to have successfully scaled eight peaks over 8,000 metres: Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Kangchenjunga, and Annapurna I.[1][2]
History
Giripremi was established in 1982 by a group of mountaineers from Pune, including Anand Palande and Ushaprabha Page, with the aim of promoting mountaineering and outdoor adventure in India. Over four decades, the club has organised and led expeditions to some of the world's highest and most challenging peaks.[3]
Major expeditions
- Mount Everest: Giripremi successfully organised expeditions to Mount Everest, with team members reaching the summit in 2012, marking one of the most significant achievements for an Indian mountaineering club.[4]
- Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu: Following Everest, Giripremi mountaineers summited Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu, further adding to the list of 8,000 m peaks scaled by the club.[5]
- Dhaulagiri: In 2019, Giripremi mountaineers scaled Dhaulagiri, the world’s seventh-highest mountain at 8,167 m.[6]
- Manaslu: In 2017, the club organised an expedition to Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest peak, successfully placing multiple climbers on the summit.[7]
- Kangchenjunga: In May 2019, Giripremi’s Kangchenjunga expedition reached the 8,586 m summit, making it the only Indian club to have scaled seven of the 8,000 m peaks by that time.[8]
- Annapurna I: In April 2021, three members of Giripremi summited Annapurna I, the tenth-highest mountain in the world, completing the club’s 8,000 m peak list.[1][2]
- Mount Meru: In September 2023, Giripremi became the first Indian mountaineering club to successfully climb Mount Meru’s main summit.[9][10]
Notable members
- Umesh Zirpe – Recipient of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award and the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Award.[11]
- Ashish Mane – Leading Indian high-altitude climber.
- Jitendra Gaware – Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Awardee.
- Krishna Dhokle – Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Awardee.
Publications
Giripremi members have authored several books on mountaineering, available on major online bookstores:
- Dongaryatra – by Anand Palande
- Ekand Shiledar – by Ushaprabha Page
- Base Camp Varun – by Jayant Tulpule
- Everest – by Umesh Zirpe
- Shikharratna Kangchenjunga – by Umesh Zirpe and Bhushan Harshe
- Sherpa – by Umesh Zirpe
Training and education
Giripremi was instrumental in founding the Guardian Giripremi Institute of Mountaineering (GGIM), which offers the only recognised diploma course in mountaineering in India.[12]
Recognition
In 2023, the Southern Command of the Indian Army felicitated Giripremi with the “Sword of Regalia” for its contribution to Indian mountaineering.[13]
See also
- Mountaineering in India
- Guardian Giripremi Institute of Mountaineering
References
- ^ a b "3 Giripremi members scale Annapurna Main summit". The Times of India. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Giripremi mountaineers scale Mt Annapurna I, world's 10th tallest peak". Hindustan Times. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "How Pune became a mountaineering hub". Mint Lounge. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Pune's Giripremi team scales Mount Everest". Punekar News. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Pune's Giripremi team conquers Lhotse and Makalu". The Times of India. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "2 climbers from Giripremi scale eighth highest mountain peak". The Times of India. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Giripremi mountaineers scale Manaslu". The Indian Express. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Giripremi completes Mount Kangchenjunga expedition". The Indian Express. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Indian mountaineering club becomes first to scale Mt Meru". The Times of India. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Giripremi team scales Mt Meru, first Indian group to achieve feat". Hindustan Times. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Zirpe to receive Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award". The Times of India. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Giripremi to set up help desk for mountaineers". The Times of India. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Southern Command felicitates mountaineering club Giripremi with Sword of Regalia". Deccan Herald. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2025.