Niraj Tamrakar
Founder and CEO
Niraj Tamrakar is a professional in the tourism industry, boasting over 15 years of expertise spanning tourism, environmental education, and sustainable development. He has a Master's degree in Environment Education and Sustainable Development, complemented by a postgraduate diploma in the same field. His primary focus is nurturing connections among professionals and aspiring scholars to advance climate change awareness, conduct research, and advocate for sustainable practices. Additionally, he is engaged in connecting and documenting the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley with students, youths, researchers, and travellers through heritage walks and hikes. He endeavours to utilize different regions of Nepal as educational platforms to expose participants to issues, and possibilities and enhance their theoretical knowledge.
After completing his bachelor's in Development Studies, Niraj co-founded the not-for-profit organization Tourism Development Endeavors with the vision to explore Nepal and promote outdoor learning and exploration to promote Nepal, document communities, and engage in development. He started organizing outdoor learning programs in 2007. Since learning while travelling on the Langtang Valley Trek in 2007, he has been organizing outdoor learning programs that bring people from different facets of life together to experience Nepal, learn, and inspire travel.
After joining Kathmandu University School of Education first as a postgraduate diploma (2008) and then as a full-time master's student in environmental education and sustainable development, Niraj learned different aspects of the educational process, methods, and pedagogies of education. Kathmandu University taught me how to understand students and how to interact and share knowledge with different age groups. This has inspired Niraj to question the education system. Discussing reforms and possibilities inspired the creation of forums and networks to influence practical education.
The opportunity of being British Council Nepal Climate Champion 2009–11 helped Niraj become involved in climate change advocacy, teaching, learning, and creative Artivism as an education student through training and explorations. The team organized multiple training programs for youth aged 16–30: Climate Messenger, I’m a Power Shifter, Learn, Educate, and Train, The Change Workshop, and Heritage Promoters.
Since 2012, Niraj has been a course facilitator at the School of Environment Science and Management (SchEMS), Pokhara University, in the B.SC 5th Semester, 3-credit course Sustainable Tourism Management. His teaching responsibilities include field excursions and supervising thesis on mountain and tourism subjects.
Currently, Niraj is involved in Mountain Mandala Institute and Nepali Trails Trekking and Tours. The Mountain Mandala Institute is a research-based institution focused on learning the importance of environmental values, social integrity, and self-development in nature and communities through different learning programs, research, networking, and publications.
