On the third Wednesday of a blistering April, the wind in Surkhet did something strange. It carried not just dust and pollen, but possibility. Somewhere along that breeze, in a town where mangoes ripened before monsoon and laughter echoed through narrow alleys, Bhuwan did the unexpected – he enrolled in Kopila Valley School’s +2 Management program (Grades 11 and 12) without any expectations or knowledge about the school. 

He didn’t know it then, but that decision  would change everything.
He didn’t know that a place built with bamboo and belief would make him unrecognizable to his own reflection.
He didn’t know he’d walk into Kopila as a stranger and leave with a story.

This is that story.
And it begins not with a plan, but a whim.

“A decision taken on a whim sometimes changes your destiny. Anything can happen at any time,” says Bhuwan. “Kopila surpassed my non-existent expectations. I’m an existing example and so are many of my friends. The fact is that when a community believes in you, you grow differently – strong with willpower and a heart to dream.” 

Bhuwan shares that before Kopila, he was a shy young boy who never participated in school activities. He kept most things to himself. “But Kopila challenged me. It began to stretch my voice the way the sun stretches shadows—softly, steadily,” he explains. “The environment, people, seniors and juniors, teachers, everyone just made me feel like I wanted to do more, be more. In a way, I think the moment I entered the community of Kopila, I became a different young boy, the one who is more confident, opinionated, and aroused with dreams and goals.”

“Those two years were the best years of my late teenage years. Not only did I grow and make friends, but I also found a family for life. Kopila didn’t change who I was. It revealed me.”

Buwan graduated from Kopila Valley School in the year 2020. After graduation, everything was suddenly…quiet. He wandered through this era like someone caught between scenes in a play. He wasn’t a schoolboy anymore. But he didn’t quite know who he was either. This break was a freedom, which at first felt like getting lost in  a market with no map. No timetable, no assignments, no gentle reminders from Binaya sir to “Speak a little louder, Buwan, the world needs to hear you.” 

And then the freedom slowly began to surface into realization that he needed to pursue a bachelor’s degree. 

“My family runs a yarn shop. The only and the oldest in the town of Surkhet. I’ve always known that business is something I would eventually do, which is also the reason why I chose to study Management for my +2. I grew up watching my parents wake up early in the morning to open the shop and come home late. Some days, it would be a fruitful day for them, and some days not so fruitful.  But that never let down their spirits. They always woke up the next day and continued. It was beautiful and encouraging to see. I longed to have a persistence like they carried. So, after some few months of thinking and re-thinking, I decided to join a business school in Kathmandu.”

Leaving the only town he knew wasn’t sadness exactly. More like a floating feeling. His new chapter was beginning to start, and he was thrilled but also scared. But he didn’t let fear stop him. He boarded the plane. 

“I remember staring out the window of the airplane and seeing miles and miles of greenery before seeing a crowded city sectioned into perfect squares. Dozens of mysterious blue-green pools lie below, glowing at their edges. From so high up above it, the world seems ordered and deliberate. It is structured and chaotic. Beautiful and strange. And I knew something extraordinary was starting.” 

For nearly six months, Bhuwan lived in a small hostel room in Kathmandu, adjusting to the noise, chaos, and rhythm of a city that never truly rested. At first, everything felt foreign—the dust, the rush, the unfamiliar silence of his room. Back home, quiet meant peace; here, it meant loneliness. He missed the hills, his family, and the familiarity of home. But slowly, the city softened. He found comfort in a corner tea shop, made friends over momo and late-night walks, and learned to navigate the city’s pace with growing ease. 

When it came time to choose a major at King’s College, Bhuwan chose Digital Marketing because he saw something many didn’t: a world shifting, evolving, and opening new doors. He saw potential – not just for his career, but for creating, connecting, and telling stories in a language the world was beginning to speak fluently. 

This course came to be a great advantage for him in the next chapter of his life. 

“One day, my older brother and I were on a call reminiscing about our childhood. Swimming in the rivers, hiking up the hills in our hometown. We talked about how challenging it was to go camping since we didn’t have any camping equipment. It led us to thinking, what if there was a way to rent or buy trekking and camping equipment in Surkhet? An idea we kept talking about for the next few months turned into a goal. We were adamant to turn it into a reality.”

Bhuwan wrote a proposal to the Kopila team, asking for financial support for his business idea. When he received a promising email, the goal suddenly seemed possible. With a generous loan of NRS 50,000 from Kopila Valley School’s entrepreneurship seed fund, plus some savings from his brother and Bhuwan himself, they set out to look for inventory and vendors. Bhuwan shares that it was challenging to find vendors for their business and to create a strategic marketing plan. 

“Karnali is a very beautiful place which remains one of Nepal’s best-kept secrets – untouched, raw, and breathtakingly real. While tourists flock to the more well-known regions, very few venture west to discover what Karnali quietly offers: landscapes that shift from emerald hills to snow-capped peaks, ancient trails that whisper stories of forgotten heroes, and rivers that flow with memories. And my personal vision has always been to help people discover the beauty of Karnali and instigate summer camp culture in my region.” 

Driven by their personal vision and love for the outdoors, Bhuwan and his brother began visiting schools across Surkhet, sharing their ideas with teachers and students – introducing a business they proudly called YATRA Rental & Gears, which translates to journey in Nepali. Bhuwan started marketing the business on social media, which gave them exposure outside of their small town.

Soon schools began organizing hikes, nature camps, and overnight trips for their students — and when it came time to gear up, they turned to YATRA. Whether it was tents, sleeping bags, or trekking essentials, YATRA became the go-to place. Corporate people, travel enthusiasts, and bikers visit YATRA to rent or purchase whatever they need. 

One of the most successful moments for YATRA comes every year during the Badimalika Maha Buwa—a grand religious pilgrimage in the Badimalika region of Nepal. This sacred event draws thousands of devotees who trek for days across rolling green hills, enduring the elements to reach the revered temple site and offer their prayers. They need to camp under open skies, often in remote and challenging conditions—and YATRA steps in with the tents, sleeping gear, and essentials they need to rest, recover, and continue their sacred journey.  For many, it’s a spiritual journey. For YATRA, it’s a chance to serve.

It’s been more than a year now that YATRA has been ready for people traveling from all parts of Nepal, especially those exploring the beauty and hidden gem-of-stories the Karnali region holds. What started as a simple dream is now helping hundreds of young people explore the outdoors – comfortably, safely, and with a spirit of discovery.

Bhuwan helps the business from Kathmandu and visits Surkhet during his break and holidays. Currently he has made some time for barista and bartending lessons, to add to his skillset. In almost two months, he will graduate with his degree in  digital marketing.

“As a young entrepreneur, I believe in something one of my closest friends told me once. ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ This pretty much sums up my journey. I believed in the process, I believed in the timing, I believed in myself. I believed in my brother. And we did it together. I have envisioned many, many years of success for YATRA.”

“If there’s one piece of advice I’d give to my juniors at Kopila,” Bhuwan says, “it’s this: learn to balance your life. Because once you master balance, you’ve already mastered everything else.”