Our Story

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 1990s, 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. He was a friend to climbers who came from far and wide, trying to reach the world’s highest peaks. With his courage, 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. 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.

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 in Nepal and reducing the cost of treks through the 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.

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 believed 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.

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. We have taken our family legacy in a new direction: helping people through education, healthcare, and skills training.

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, and gathering secondhand clothing to distribute to people in need (Warming Up Nepal). We also worked on the ground as first responders and relief workers during the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.

We completed 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 an after-school program in the small mountain village of Saldum, which has since 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 Samuha (Mother's Group), 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.

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 dedicated to moving Nepalis towards greater well-being. We have also committed to ensuring that a share of our profits goes directly to the upkeep of our charity, NLC, and all our social programs in the Himalayas.

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, and booking links) 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

This adventure is more than a family business—it’s a journey that has 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 to experience the Himalayas up close through our family’s travel company, The Everest 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