Our Story
From the mountains we call home
Born in the Mountains
I am Chhape Ram, and I was born and raised in Shilha — a small village tucked into the Parvati Valley, surrounded by the peaks and forests of the Himalayas. This is where my family has lived for generations. It is where I grew up, where my wife and children live, and where I will always call home.
As a child, these mountains were my playground. I walked the trails before I understood they had names — through the forests above the village, up to the high meadows where shepherds take their flocks in summer, and over the passes that connect one valley to the next. Trekking was not something I chose. It was simply how we lived.
Chhape Ram — founder & guide
Shilha Village
A Life Shaped by the Valley
Life in a Himalayan village is not easy. It is honest, physical, and close to the land. I have worked hard all my life — in the fields, on the mountain trails, and for my family and community. Everything I know about these mountains, I learned by being here, season after season, year after year.
I come from a big family, and family is at the centre of everything we do. My wife and children are here in Shilha. The village is small but full of life — everyone knows each other, helps each other, and shares what the valley gives us.
The Parvati Valley has been my whole world. I know where the rivers swell during monsoon, which meadows bloom first in spring, where to find shelter when the weather turns, and which trails are safe when the snow is deep. This is not something you learn from a book. It comes from a lifetime of walking these mountains.
Why I Started Mahakal Hike Adventure
For years, I guided treks for other companies — leading groups over the Sar Pass, through the forests, and up to the high camps. After nearly a decade of guiding, I wanted to do things my own way — to share these mountains directly, without anything in between.
Mahakal Hike Adventure is my way of opening up this valley to travellers from India and around the world. When you trek with me, you are not following a commercial itinerary. You are walking through my home, on trails I have known since I was a child, guided by someone who lives here.
I want people to experience the Himalayas the way I do — not as a destination, but as a place where every ridge, every forest, and every village has a story. The mountains have given me everything. Sharing them is the least I can do.
What makes us different
Trek With a Local
From the Village, Not an Office
We are not a travel agency in a city. We live here — in Shilha, at the foot of the trails. When you arrive, you are arriving in our village.
A Lifetime of Local Knowledge
The weather, the trails, the plants, the wildlife, the villages along the way — this is knowledge that comes from growing up here, not from a training course.
Small Groups, Personal Attention
We keep our groups small so every trekker gets the care and attention they deserve. Your safety and experience come before everything else.
Supporting the Village
When you trek with us, you are directly supporting a local family and community. The porters, the cooks, the guides — they are all from the valley.
Come Walk With Us
Have questions about a trek, or just want to say hello? Reach out on WhatsApp — I will reply personally.
Get in Touch