[2] The institute was formed to honor the great desire of Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India.

The institute is built in Uttarkashi because it is close to the Gangotri region in Western Garhwali, which has good climbing and training potential in India.

[1][3] In August 2022, the institute hosted the national sports climbing championship.

[4] On the morning of 4 October 2022, a team of 41 climbers from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering attempting Draupadi Ka Danda II were hit by an avalanche a few hundred meters below the summit.

The bodies of 27 climbers were recovered during rescue operations, while two mountaineers could not be found.