Logo

Internationally renowned and a celebrated mountaineer, Captain M.S. Kohli, belongs to the exclusive band of three climbers who in 1962 spent three consecutive nights on Mount Everest at 17,650 feet, two without oxygen. He led the Indian Everest Expedition 1965 which put nine men on the summit-a world record which India held for seventeen years. Captain Kohli has fifteen major expeditions to his credit- three to Mount Everest, four each to Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot and one each to Saser Kangri, Annapuran III, Trisulil and Nanda Devi East. He was responsible for developing the Indo-Tibetan Border Police into a formidable mountain-eering organization. In 1977, he collaborated with Sir Edmund Hillary in ‘From the Ocean to the Sky Jet-Boat Expedition’ up the Ganges which heralded white-water rafting in India. Captain Kohli has had a distinguished and spectacular career spanning the Indian Navy (Captain), the ITB Police (Advisor) and Air India (Regional Director), In 1971, on joining Air India, he conceived and pioneered the brand new segment of Himalayan Tourism. In 1984, he trekked all over Bhutan and drew the master plan for adventure-tourism in the Himalayan kingdom. He helped Pakistan, Nepal and China in the promotion of trekking tours in these Himalayan countries. He was advisor to the successful Malaysian Mount Everest Expedition for three years. Captain Kohli is recipient of several awards and honours including Padma Bhushan, Arjuna Award, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and the IMF Gold Medal. He enjoyed the rare privilege of addressing members of both the Houses of Indian Parliament in the Central Hall on 8 September, 1965.