The Karnataka Mountaineering Association was established in the year 1966 to propagate adventure and allied activities among the youth. Since then, the association has emerged as Karnataka’s leading voluntary body doing yeomen service in the field of adventure.  Over the years the association grew from strength to strength and its activities spread to such an extent that many adventure clubs sprouted and are functioning today.

Though the association had members who were keen in their desire and confident of their capabilities, it had to undergo a lot of hardship and hurdles in its nascent years. The association owes its eminence to the support given over the years by well known personalities like Late K. A. Nettakallappa (1966-70), Brig.V.P.Naib (1970-74), Late Mr.Kondajji Basappa (1974-1982). Mr.T. S.Krishna Murthy  (1983-84), & Late Mr.M.Bhaktavatsala (1984 – 2013). Mr.Sudhir Kumar Mehta is President since. With the unstinted co-operation of the members and successive Secretaries, viz., Mrs.Usha Ramaiah, Mr.P.S.B.Naidu, Mr.Sudhir Kumar Mehta, Mr.Radhakrishna, Mr.Dinesh Baliga, Mr.K.R.Lavaraju, Late Mr.B.G.Naganath, Mr.Keshavdas, Late Mr.K.V.Mohan, Dr. B. K. Chakrapani and presently Mr. S. Srivatsa , the Association has grown in leaps and bounds to its present premier position in the state

The association has now completed 56 years of glorious and adventurous existence. From humble beginnings with a few ropes borrowed from the Fire Department, the association today has built up a sizeable store and membership base. This is a stupendous achievement for a voluntary body, made possible by a steady stream of members and dedicated volunteers.

The longevity of any voluntary body is a test of its character. Crossing 50 years for any voluntary body is no mean achievement. We are proud that the association has proved just that, driven by a team of volunteers who believe in the avowed objective of the association which is to propagate and promote adventure and allied activities among the children and youth. Since inception, the association has been doing yeomen service in the field of terrestrial adventure, whether a beginner looking for an introduction to the outdoors, or a seasoned adventurer looking for new challenges, we have always delivered.

The association has scores of members who have successfully completed Basic, Advance and MOI Mountaineering courses conducted by the various Mountaineering Institutes. Some have completed skiing, skydiving, para-sailing and para-gliding courses as well. Many trained members have served as guest instructors for courses conducted by the Mountaineering Institutes at Darjeeling, Uttarkashi and Manali. Senior members have accompanied foreign expedition teams as liaison officers and a few have been conferred with the State and Dasara awards given by the Government of Karnataka (One Rajyotsava and Seven Dasara)

From a few programmes a year to dozens every year has been an enviable growth story. On an average 300+ adventure lovers partake in our programmes annually. It is our concious decision to do multiple programmes to benefit a vast audience rather than concentrate and splurge on one or two major programmes that benefit only a handful.

The rock belts of Karnataka have found mention in international adventure journals. In recent years a host of climbers from Italy, Britain, France, etc have visited these rock belts. The association has helped them on their trips.

Quite a few of our veteran members have excelled in alternate sports as well – masters swimming, masters athletics, marathon, wildlife census etc.

Today, we have the expertise to organise full scale Himalayan Ventures. Till Date, the association has successfully organised more than 150 expeditions in the Himalayas apart from innumerable programmes in the rock belts and rain forests in and around Karnataka.

During the year 2000, the association put up a shibir aptly named as the Tenzing Norgay Shibir at the Sahasotsava (adventure carnival) jointly organised by the National Geographic Channel and the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, in the Palace Grounds, Bangalore and was adjudged the MOST ECO FRIENDLY SHIBIR. The NGC presented the association with a survival kit as a memento.

We had our share of disappointments, tragedies and successes. We neither bowed down to adversary nor went into clowd nine on our successes. It is this level headedness and moderation that has been the hallmark of the association in its growth.

The association is affiliated to the GETHNAA (General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure, DYES, and Government of Karnataka) and is an institutional member of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, New Delhi, which is the apex national body for mountaineering and allied sports.