About Us

In 2018, amidst the quiet strength of the Himalayas, Panki Sood and Mahima Mehra launched Himalayan Volunteer Tourism (HVT) as a social experiment—a humble Facebook group created to connect volunteers with host communities across the region.

The idea was simple yet powerful: could a digital platform bring together people who wanted to serve, learn, and immerse themselves in authentic grassroots work with hosts who needed their skills and energy?

What began as an experiment quickly gained momentum. Hosts shared opportunities. Volunteers shared stories. Connections turned into collaborations. Over time, this small Facebook group grew into a thriving community—now over 30,000 strong—of changemakers, travelers, teachers, doctors, artists, and dreamers, all bound by a shared purpose: to contribute meaningfully to the Himalayan region.

Today, HVT has grown far beyond its digital roots. We are now a Section 8 registered not-for-profit organization, running structured programs and long-term initiatives in education, skill development, and volunteering. Yet at our core, we still carry the spirit of that original question—a belief that even the simplest ideas, when rooted in community, can grow into movements that make a difference.