Pitamber Gurung: A Tale of Resilience
- Highlights Tourism
Pitamber Gurung, aged 55, resides in Kathmandu, leading a modest life with his wife and two children. He is a tourism entrepreneur, associated with half a dozen nonprofit social organizations, demonstrating his strong commitment to giving back to society, where he earns his livelihood.
As a young boy hailing from a remote village in the Ramechap district, he embarked on a challenging journey to the capital city with the hopes of progress. Given his lack of financial resources, adequate education, and proper guidance, this journey was far from easy. Nevertheless, he persevered, progressed, and achieved more than he had initially envisioned.
Pitamber humbly acknowledges that his achievements are not solely the result of his hard work. He expresses deep gratitude to all those who supported him during his professional journey spanning over three decades, particularly during the most challenging times of his life.
Born as the second child to the late Birkh Bahadur Gurung and the late Min Kumari Gurung, Pitamber started as a trekking sub-guide with Malla Treks. Over the years, he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and expertise in trekking and tour guiding.
While he was born in Namadi-3 Ramechhap, he has been settled permanently in Budhanilkantha Municipality, Kapan Soludanda, Kathmandu. After completing his primary education in the village, he came to Kathmandu with his brother, aspiring to make a better life for themselves. However, surviving in the capital without adequate education, skills, and financial support was a formidable challenge.
Before entering the tourism sector, Pitamber worked in various fields, including a wood factory, road construction, and restaurants, initially as a dishwasher and later as a chef. His life experiences included nights without food and journeys by foot due to a lack of bus fare.
Nevertheless, Pitamber’s unwavering determination to learn and improve led him from dishwasher to mastering continental and Japanese cuisine. Concurrently, he prepared for the School Leaving Certificate examination, attending morning coaching classes and working as a chef during the day. He successfully passed the SLC examination and acquired proficiency in Japanese and English. Later, he went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree.
Reflecting on his journey, Pitamber recalls, “When I passed the SLC and learned languages, I decided to explore trekking. I had the opportunity to embark on a 24-day Annapurna round trek in 1989, marking the beginning of my trekking career as a sub-guide with Malla Trek.”
Subsequently, Pitamber joined Nepal Kaze Travel as a senior guide, eventually rising to the position of manager. He dedicated 19 years to Nepal Kaze Travel, accumulating valuable experiences, expanding his network, and gaining confidence in the field. He guided clients through almost all trekking and travel routes in Nepal, fostering connections with new people and immersing himself in diverse cultures. His profession brought him joy, as traveling, meeting new people, and earning a living were sources of fulfillment.
Pitamber pursued further training in trekking and tour guiding, including courses at the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management, first aid training, eco-workshops, marketing, and sustainable tourism. He also served as an instructor in first aid training, high-altitude guiding policies, and the Helicopter Emergency Medicine Service (HEMS).
In 2012, in collaboration with a friend, Pitamber established a trekking agency called Nepal Himalayan Village Treks & Expedition Pvt. Ltd. However, the partnership encountered challenges, leading him to venture on his own. Subsequently, he founded All Nepal Adventure Tours & Treks (P.) Ltd., of which he has been the Managing Director since 2013, guiding numerous groups and individuals.
Pitamber’s extensive experience extends to coordinating with various groups, including documentary teams broadcast by NHK TV, and participating in trade fairs such as the Korea Travel Fair Trade in 2010. His travels have taken him to countries such as Japan (10 times), Thailand (10 times), Tibet (7 times), India (more than 20 times), Korea (4 times), the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany (1 time), and Singapore (1 time). His hobbies include traveling, music, and photography, with his work being featured in postcards and posters.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Pitamber is deeply involved in social work. He is associated with half a dozen nonprofit organizations, holding leadership roles in some of them. Currently, he serves as the General Secretary of the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP), an organization dedicated to addressing environmental issues in the Kathmandu Valley and conducting various training programs for tourism workers.
Furthermore, Pitamber is the President of the Gurung Tourism Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal (GTEAN), which aims to strengthen the capacity of Gurung tourism entrepreneurs and has established a relief fund for tourism workers in emergency situations. He also leads the Ashimala Saving & Credit Cooperative, holds the position of Secretary in the Gurung Welfare Society, Kapan, and presides over the Solu Danda Tole Development Committee, Vice president of the Lions Club of Kathmandu Melvin Jones. He serves as an Executive Member of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), the only alpine club in the Himalayan country. In the NMA, He is the publication and publicity committee coordinator. He is affiliated with several other organizations, including the Soludanda Water Supply Committee, Peaceful Home Stay, Kapan, Radio Namobudhha, and Child Development Society, Kapan.
Pitamber’s commitment to social work has included supporting the construction of school buildings in Khalte Dhading, Bhittari Ramchhap, and the Child Development Society Building in Kapan, Kathmandu. Reflecting on his journey into social work, Pitamber shares, “I could not access a proper education in my childhood due to the lack of schools in my village. When I became a trekking guide, I approached my Japanese clients with the idea of building a school in my village, and they wholeheartedly supported my initiative. This marked my first step into the realm of social work, and since then, I have continuously engaged with various organizations. I find immense happiness in contributing my time and resources to the betterment of others.”
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