Travel is about exploring and discovering new places. It is about living your dreams and beyond. But it is also about meeting amazing people who not only inspire you but present a totally new perspective of life, a life that you would not even have imagined in your wildest imagination. Each human being is a story unto themselves, and when you travel you meet and hear some of the most incredible stories. On our visit to Nepal as delegates of the Himalayan Travel Mart 2019, we were privileged to meet an incredible woman, a true daughter of the mountains, whose life is an amazing journey of sheer grit, determination, and triumph. We were honored to spend some time with Lhakpa Phuti Sherpa who also gifted us with copies of her book, “Forty Years In The Mountains”.
Table of Contents
An Unforgettable Conversation With An Extraordinary Woman
Cool Himalayan winds gently caressed us as we sat in a rooftop restaurant in Kathmandu. The mountains were of course far away, but the words of the lady who was speaking to us seemed to magically materialize them right in front of us. We were having dinner with Lhakpa Phuti Sherpa and she was telling us about her life in the mountains.
A seemingly never-ending trail of people walked briskly below us, circumambulating the famed Boudhanath Stupa, but we were riveted to the fascinating story about a girl born to a Sherpa family in the remote village of Mushey, not far from Lukla which in many ways is the gateway to the Everest and also known for having one of the most dangerous airports in the world.
Forty Years In The Mountains – Inspiring Story Of A Daughter Of The Mountains
Lhakpa Phuti Sherpa, President of the Nepal Mountain Academy, Founder of Luxury DMC a company that operates tours in Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, Author, philanthropist, wears many hats and has come a long way from the remote district of Solukhumbu where she was born and spent her initial years. And yet she still retains the simplicity and truth that is synonymous of the mountainous region.
We listened fascinated to the story of a young girl following her father into the mountains, wide-eyed and eager to assimilate the beauty all around her into her being, curious to explore the world. A girl who ran away to distant Kathmandu, not once but twice during her teenage years as she did not want to be tied down with the marriage that her parents proposed for her, but wanted to explore the world.
In today’s world where Social Media becomes the megaphone of people mouthing different ‘isms’ including feminism, women’s emancipation, peace, and harmony, etc., the life of this woman shines silently like a beacon. Her life is in itself a great example of what the power of purpose and determination of a single woman can achieve. Lhakpa Phuti Sherpa has many firsts to her credit, she was the Deputy Team Leader of the first Nepalese Women Expedition to the Everest which was led by late Pasang Lhamu Sherpa who was the first Nepalese woman to summit Mt. Everest. She is also the first Sherpa woman author to be published and the first Sherpa woman to assume a senior position in the Government.
As the sun disappears behind the impressive Boudhanath Stupa, casting a surreal hue on the benign eyes of the Buddha that look in all four directions, Lhakpa Phuti Sherpa’s eyes sparkle as she talks about her work at the Nepal Mountain Academy and how they have introduced different courses including Bachelor and Masters Degree in Mountaineering, adventure tourism, and especially courses for female guides which are really close to her heart. She talks about tourism and her take on tourism is indeed unique. “Tourism is an ambassador of peace, as it brings people together”, she says with a smile. She goes on to talk about the travel company she founded and how she sees tourism beyond its business avatar and as a catalyst for social service.
“I have written about my life in this book”, said Lhakpa Phuti Sherpa as she handed us copies of her first book which was written in Nepali language and has been translated as, “Forty Years In The Mountains”.
See our conversation with Lhakpa Phuti Sherpa here – https://youtu.be/o_Z53vEi5A8 :
The Book – Forty Years In The Mountains
The original book in the Nepali language was titled, “Himalma Chalis Barsa”, and later translated into English as, “Forty Years In The Mountains”, by Mahesh Paudyal. This is an autobiography of Lhakpa Phuti Sherpa and documents her life from her humble beginnings in the remote district of Solukhumbu to her running away to Kathmandu, and how she rose to be the President of the Nepal Mountain Academy as well as carve out a niche for the travel company that she founded.
The book transports the reader to land which not many are aware of and gives a close view of life in the Himalayan regions. It gives a candid and truthful account of the life of the Sherpas, their trials and tribulations and how a girl in the community rises above her circumstances to scale the peaks of achievements in various sectors.
The narrative is simple and touches the core of the readers’ hearts with its simplicity and truthfulness. There is a raw earthiness to the book which literally makes readers feel that they themselves are in the Himalayan village and experiencing what the young girl, Lhakpa Phuti is going through. You laugh with her, cry with her, and explore the grandeur of the mountains with wonder. The hardships that the Sherpas undergo as they help tourists and mountaineers summit the Himalayan peaks is brought out very poignantly. The best part is that in spite of the extreme difficulties and conditions that she faces the young Lhakpa Phuti never gets overcome by negativity or cynicism, she keeps the flame of optimism burning bright.
The book is gripping and is an epic saga of human endeavor that moves you and inspires you at the same time. It is not just another book, but a classic that has the potential to impact and influence lives.
Lhakpa Phuti Sherpa has also written another book which is in a novel form though it is based on her own life. The book is titled “Himalki Chhori or Daughter Of The Mountains”. She is also working on another book that looks at her experience working in the Government, which she feels would really informative for the youngsters aspiring for similar careers.
To fully experience the mountain life and the triumphs and tribulations of an extraordinary woman buy and read the book, “Forty Years In The Mountains”.
About The Author
- Lhakpa Phuti Sherpa currently lives in Kathmandu and is the President of the Nepal Mountain Academy and a respected figure in the Tourism Industry of Nepal
- She also runs a travel company called Luxury DMC which offers tours in Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, with her unwavering focus on providing a safe and quality experience to the clients, the tours organized by her are bound to be impeccable
We hoped you enjoyed reading about our interaction with this extraordinary woman and also the few snippets from her autobiography. For reading her full story do buy the book, “Forty Years In The Mountains”. We hope to bring you many more stories of our encounter with extraordinary men and women during our travels.
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