ABVIMAS(Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering & Allied Sports) formerly known as DMAS(Directorate of Mountaineering & Allied Sports) is a government run organization/institute in Manali, Himachal Pradesh which provides certified programs in mountaineering, skiing, rafting, trekking and a few other mountain/adventure sports. The courses are subsidized by Indian government and are offered at low rates for Indian citizens. I took a 26 days Basic Mountaineering Course for just INR 7,800 and returned home spending under 10,000 bucks for everything including transportation. All the food and accommodation is provided inclusive of the cost at the institute.
It is pretty easy to reach ABVIMAS as it is a mere 3 km from the Manali bus stand. You can get a taxi for 50-100 bucks. Ask the taxi driver to drop you at the office as the office is around a km inside the main gate of the institute. You should preferably reach a day before in the morning so that you can register without any hassle. You will be assigned a bedroom(there are around 6-10 beds in a room) in one of the 2 hostels in the institute. You will also get a cupboard for your belongings but don’t forget to bring a small lock unless you are in a group and all your roomies are your friends. No drugs, alcohol or cigarettes are allowed inside the institute campus. Be sure to buy all the prerequisite essentials before the beginning of the course.
Once the course starts, the institute requires you to follow a strict discipline(level of discipline varies based on the course :p ) and they won’t allow you to go outside the institute in the little time you are free. Although they might allow you to go to the market to buy something essential the first day or in emergency. But we did sneak out a few times. In case you try to do so, do not get caught or be ready for the punishment; and yeah, there is punishment even for being half a minute late (we had to do at least 10 push ups every time).
