GIRIVIHAR was established in 1964 with the aim of promoting a sense of adventure and love for nature among youths mainly through outdoor activities such as trekking and hiking. The club was transformed from the The Inter Collegiate Hikers Club originally formed in 1954 by some professors & students of Bombay University to promote hiking & trekking to the hills & forts of the Sahyadris among the students & teachers of the Bombay University. However, in order to broaden the membership base beyond the people of Bombay University it was renamed to GIRIVIHAR. Since then the club has grown from strength to strength. It has continued to successfully organize its primary activity of hiking & trekking in the Sahyadri ranges consistently for the last 50 years.

Through this basic activity has sprung the more advanced pursuits of Rock-Climbing, High Altitude trekking in the Himalay and mountaineering expeditions to Himalayan peaks. New hikers continue to join the ranks of GIRIVIHAR, while more experienced climbers attempt peaks in Himalayas. Since 1966, 33 Rock-Climbing camps, 17 Adventure Camps, 36 expeditions, 13 high altitude treks and numerous Pinnacle climbs have been organized, climaxing in an attempt in 1988 on Mt. Kangchenjunga (28,208 ft. 8586 m.), the third highest mountain in the world. During this expedition, though the summit was not reached, 2 climbers were able to go beyond 8000 m and a vast experience was gained during this expedition. Exactly 10 years later this valuable experience helped achieve a very big success. Surendra Chavan & Lavraj Dharmashaktu reached the summit of Everest on 18th May 1998 on behalf of a small civilian expedition celebrating Golden Jubilee of Indian Independence. As a fall-out effort from Kangchenjunga Expedition of 1988, a separate trust was created named K M Foundation for letting all the fraternity utilize the asset in the form of very high quality mountaineering equipment store.

A consistent track record of hiking & trekking since 1954. Almost entire Sahyadri range has been visited many times during this time. A few outstanding rock climbing ascent: