SHAKTI
Our Story
Origins & Ethos
Shakti Himalaya was founded in 2006 by Bombay native and respected travel innovator Jamshyd Sethna, whose love of the mountains began during his school days in Darjeeling. Jamshyd’s distinctive tastes in travel, food and design - combined with an unwavering devotion to the Himalayas - laid the foundations for Shakti’s Village Walks: pioneering, private encounters that preserve authenticity and comfort, and remain unmatched in the industry today.
Cultivating Ethical Journeys
Jamshyd Sethna graduated in English literature but, in an era when no one would hire a humanities graduate, he took his first job as a tea planter in Upper Assam. After three years on the plantations he returned to Bombay where he was offered a choice of departments within a firm and chose travel & tourism, setting the course for his career.
Disillusioned by mass-market tours, he was determined to craft journeys for the independent, open-minded luxury traveller. First with Banyan in 1996 and later with Shakti Himalaya in 2006, he created immersive, ethically driven experiences that showcase India’s cultural and natural heritage.
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The Spark for Shakti Village Walks
A dear friend once persuaded him on a mountain walk:
“The village was dilapidated, the food dreadful - but the mountains were celestial.”
In that moment, Jamshyd knew he had to turn such adventures into Shakti Village Walks, off-the-radar journeys through hard-to-reach parts of the Himalaya.
Philosophy & Impact
Local Empowerment
Staff are hired from tiny villages, enabling them to remain in their communities rather than migrate.
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Sustainability
Solar power supplies 100% of electricity at our village houses and Prana hotel; all waste is separated, with food waste up-cycled as animal feed.
Economic Contribution
45 cents of every guest dollar stays in the local economy; the remainder circulates within India.
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“Everybody who goes up to the mountains with Shakti writes back and tells us how it’s really changed them. It does transform you, it does change you, for sure. In that sense, I have already achieved what I set out to do.”
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Looking Ahead
Under Jamshyd’s leadership, Shakti Himalaya continues to expand its sustainability goals - complete water harvesting, zero soil or atmospheric harm - and deepen its support for local communities. At Prana, our luxury eco-lodge at 7,000 ft, we’re rolling out enhanced solar and water-management systems and developing further community-led experiences. Every journey, from our original Village Walks to Prana’s immersive retreats, remains private, authentic and meticulously crafted to honour both the land and its people.
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