Meet the Ice Crew
The team behind Piti Dharr — climbers, instructors and community builders.
HOD — Himalayan Outdoor Development
HOD is a community-based initiative for the development of climbing and mountaineering in the Indian Himalayas. While climbing in India is on the rise, it is still significantly lacking affordable infrastructure and training facilities — the foundation of any climbing community. Through HOD we envision establishing a platform where climbers of today and tomorrow can access and experience climbing of various kinds and levels.
Our aim: foster a culture where climbers are aware of the opportunities around them and have the ability to pursue them.
The Team
Bharat Bhushan
Instructor · Founder · Co-organiser
The driving force behind Piti Dharr and HOD. An experienced ice climber and instructor who founded the festival to grow ice climbing in India.
Prerna Dangi
Instructor · Co-founder · Operations Manager
Co-founder of Piti Dharr and key operations mind keeping the festival running smoothly year after year. An accomplished climber and instructor.
Anil Belwal
Instructor · Technical Head
The technical backbone of the course programme. Anil brings deep expertise in ice climbing technique, safety systems and anchor building.
Vivek Mehta
Instructor · Gear Manager · Co-organiser
Vivek manages all course gear — from ice axes to crampons — ensuring every participant is properly equipped and safe on the ice.
Mukesh Pawan
Logistics & Communications
Handles logistics, communications and participant coordination — the connective tissue that keeps everything running on and off the ice.
Join Us on the Ice
Instagram: @pitidharr · Email: pitidharr@gmail.com