A Journey Through Generations: Our Family's Love for the Himalayas and Helping Nepal's People

Hello Everyone,

We are excited to share a deeply personal tale about our family, the Himalayas, and the transformation of a simple love for these mountains into a mission to assist communities in Nepal.

It All Started with Our Grandpa Hari.

Back in the late 1960s, long before trekking became popular and before fancy lodges dotted the hills, our grandfather, Hari Lal Simkhada, was walking those steep mountain paths carrying more than just heavy loads. He carried a spirit of kindness and friendship.

He wasn’t a businessman or a famous guide; he was a local helper and handler. He was a friend to climbers who came from far and wide, trying to reach the world’s highest peaks. With his courage, his deep mountain knowledge, and a big heart, he helped these adventurers find their way.

Little did he know, he was starting something much bigger than himself, a family tradition that would blend adventure with a deep love for Nepal and its people.

Our Father Ganesh’s Dream for Nepal

Fast forward to the late 1980s. Our dad, Ganesh Prasad Simkhada, stepped into this legacy just as tourism was blossoming in Nepal. But Ganesh was not only interested in business; he had a bigger vision of opening Nepal to the world of tourism.

(Old pictures of dad we can find with different tourists and any we can find of him working with different organizations)

He believed the Himalayas weren’t just for elite climbers willing to spend thousands of dollars but for everyone who wanted to experience their magic. He diligently crafted trekking routes that upheld the environment, fostered intercultural understanding, and established Nepal as a welcoming and sustainable travel destination. He was also a formal board member of the Nepal Tourism Board and worked on opening many new trekking regions of Nepal and bringing down the cost of Treks through integration of new workforces. He also served as the formal General Secretary of the Nepal Mountaineering Association and was instrumental in training Nepali mountaineering guides to international standards by collaborating with the government to implement a new training program.

LISTEN TO HIM AND GET INSPIRED (ADD AUDIO RECORDING OR VIDEO)

Ganesh’s work didn’t stop with tourism. He also helped start a small local development bank focused on tourism businesses to help entrepreneurs, and he even founded a community hospital to improve healthcare for local communities seeking an affordable alternative to expensive private hospitals. He consistently held the belief that enhancing tourism should be closely linked to enhancing the lives of the local population. On his 60th birthday, he handed the torch down to the third generation, me and my wife, hoping we would keep his legacy of tourism alive while simultaneously making the lives of Nepali people better and thriving.

Carrying the Torch: Our Generation’s Commitment

Now it’s our turn—Shreejan and Shamjhan. We are both teachers, social workers, and trained government-licensed trekking guides, and we have taken our family legacy in a new direction: helping people through education, healthcare, and skills training

(Photo gallery and videos of our previous work before establishing NLC)

In 2011, we began collaborating with various like-minded volunteers from around the world who share a love for Nepal and believe in its potential for positive change. We started small by building a learning center to help with rural education, painting schools, building roads, gathering secondhand clothing, and distributing it to people in need (warming up Nepal). We also worked on the ground as first responders and relief workers during the 2015 major earthquake in Nepal.

(Photos and videos of learning center build and all the health camps and other vities, the Tipling cam camp and also women empowerment programs we have done till now, and also legal documentation of NLC)

We did our guide training in 2016. We divide our time between managing our social projects and guiding clients through the Majestic Himalayas, where we showcase the beauty of Nepal.

In 2019, we started the Nagarjun Learning Center (NLC) and became a legal charity. We began a small after-school program in the small mountain village of Saldum, but it’s grown into something much bigger. Today we provide hot meals for kids, teach computer skills, run health camps in remote villages, offer vocational and practical training for women, and distribute clothes, medication, and supplies to mountain communities that need them most. We also collaborate with local women's groups, specifically the ama sumuha mothers team, to implement gender equality initiatives and establish a foundation for women's empowerment in Saldum, Tipling, and many other rural villages in the Himalayas of Nepal.

(PICTURE videos AND MAP OF LOCATION OF SALDUM also include our own ngo website )

It’s been wonderful to see this work grow—and even more special to know that the Nagarjun Learning Center(NLC) is now recognized as an official UN partner for social development in Nepal. We are so dedicated to moving Nepalis towards greater well-being. We have also committed to ensuring the share of profit goes directly to upkeep our charity NLC and all our social programs implemented through NLC in the Himalayas of Nepal.

(LINK TO ALL OUR PROJECTS—PAGE TO BE MADE)

Stay with Us and Travel with Purpose

To keep this work going, we opened our family home as Nagarjun Homestay in Kathmandu. It’s a cozy place where guests enjoy home-cooked organic meals, beautiful valley views, and a real taste of Nepali hospitality. As always, staying with us directly supports our projects—that’s why we’re looking forward to seeing you here soon. (Homestay pictures with guests, also booking.com link and Airbnb link of homestay so they can book directly if they wish) When you travel with us, you’re part of a story that connects breathtaking adventures with real change on the ground.

We’d Love You to Join Us

(Pictures and videos of learning center with volunteers from all over the world also include pictures and videos of them in treks safaris tours enjoying nepal)

This adventure is more than a family business—it’s a journey that’s been passed down through generations. It’s about love for the mountains, respect for Nepal, and a commitment to making a difference.

We invite you tin experiencing the Himalayas up close through our family’s travel company, The Everest Holiday, whichst Holiday, which offers treks that are about so much more than just climbing mountains. Every trek supports our community programs, helps locals, and makes a difference.

We invite you to be part of our story. Whether you come to trek, stay with us, or support the Learning Center, your journey with us helps build a better future for all.

Come with us.
Climb higher. Give deeper. Travel with heart.

With warm wishes,
Shreejan & Shamjhan

Our Story