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Dr. Dawa Gyalpo Sherpa is an Indian mountaineer, adventurer, tourism professional, tourism administrator, social entrepreneur, and sustainable tourism advocate based in Darjeeling and Kalimpong, West Bengal. He serves as Tourism Field Director with the Tourism Department, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), and is the Founder & Director of Blue Dragon Adventure & Travels, alongside the Blue Dragon Foundation and Blue Dragon Homestay. He is widely recognized for his pioneering work in eco-tourism, community-based tourism, and Himalayan adventure tourism. For more than two decades, he has devoted his life to promoting sustainable tourism, adventure sports, environmental conservation, and community development across the Indian Himalayas.
Early Life
Dr. Dawa Gyalpo Sherpa was born on 14 May 1985 in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. He lost both of his parents at a very young age and spent much of his childhood in a destitute home. Despite growing up in difficult circumstances, he refused to let adversity define his future, and through hard work, perseverance, and an unwavering passion for the mountains, he transformed his life into a story of resilience and service.
Education
- Bachelor of Tourism Studies (Pursuing)
- Mountaineering Instructor training, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling, completed with distinction
- Gold Medallist, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (Method of Instruction)
- Honorary Doctorate in Adventure Tourism (2023)
- Various professional certifications in mountaineering, adventure tourism, wilderness first aid, and outdoor leadership
Path to Mountaineering
Dr. Sherpa's adventure career began at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling, one of India's premier mountaineering institutions. After completing his professional training with distinction, he qualified as a Mountaineering Instructor, laying the foundation for a career dedicated to adventure education and mountain leadership.
In 2003, he was selected to work in Australia as a Rock Climbing Instructor in Newcastle. His experience abroad broadened his understanding of outdoor education, safety standards, and adventure tourism, which he later brought back to India to strengthen tourism in the Himalayan region.
Career
Dr. Dawa Gyalpo Sherpa has built a career spanning more than two decades in mountaineering, adventure tourism, sustainable tourism, and outdoor leadership.
- Tourism Field Director, Tourism Department, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)
- Founder & Director, Blue Dragon Adventure & Travels, established in 2003
- Founder, Blue Dragon Foundation
- Founder, Blue Dragon Homestay
As Tourism Field Director under the GTA, Dr. Sherpa has spearheaded numerous initiatives to promote eco-tourism, adventure tourism, rural tourism, heritage tourism, hiking trails, and community-based tourism throughout Darjeeling and Kalimpong, with a focus on creating sustainable livelihoods by empowering local communities through tourism.
He is the founder of Blue Dragon Adventure & Travels, one of the region's leading adventure tourism companies, as well as the Blue Dragon Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to youth empowerment, education, environmental conservation, and social welfare. He also founded Blue Dragon Homestay, promoting authentic community-based tourism and encouraging visitors to experience the culture and traditions of the Darjeeling Himalayas.
Throughout his career, he has dedicated himself to promoting responsible tourism while creating employment opportunities for local communities. He has trained hundreds of young people in trekking, mountaineering, rock climbing, wilderness first aid, outdoor leadership, and adventure guiding, helping build a skilled local tourism workforce across the Darjeeling Himalayan region. Many of his trainees have gone on to build successful careers in the tourism industry, creating a ripple effect of economic opportunity throughout the region.
Career Highlights
- Tourism Field Director with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)
- Founder of Blue Dragon Adventure & Travels, established in 2003
- Guinness World Record holder (2018) for successfully carrying the first-ever paraplegic person to Everest Base Camp — an achievement that demonstrated how physical limitations need not prevent extraordinary accomplishments when supported by determination, teamwork, and compassion
- Successfully climbed numerous peaks above 6,000 and 7,000 metres in the Indian and Nepal Himalayas
- State-level mountain biker and endurance athlete, having completed demanding cycling expeditions including Manali to Khardung La in Ladakh and Mangan to Gurudongmar Lake in North Sikkim
- More than two decades of experience in mountaineering, adventure tourism, sustainable tourism, and outdoor leadership
Achievements
- National Tourism Award (2018 & 2019)
- State Tourism Award (2016)
- President's Award (2022)
- North Bengal Adventure Award (2023)
- Honorary Doctorate in Adventure Tourism (2023)
- Global Tourism Award (2024)
- Rabindra Ratna Puraskar (2025), for contributions to sustainable eco-tourism
- National Youth Award (2025)
Philanthropy
Dr. Sherpa is deeply involved in youth development, environmental conservation, and community outreach through the Blue Dragon Foundation. He has organized and supported numerous initiatives, including peace runs, half marathons, mental health awareness campaigns, adventure festivals, and tourism development programs that promote the Himalayas as a world-class sustainable tourism destination.
He dedicates more than 30% of his company's profits to youth empowerment and community development, particularly through initiatives that promote sustainable tourism and support the growth of the tourism sector.
Every year on 6 July, he organizes the Destination Run half marathon to celebrate the birth anniversary of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The event promotes the universal values of love, compassion, peace, unity, and mental well-being, while raising awareness about the importance of physical fitness and mental health.
His work continues to inspire adventure enthusiasts and tourism professionals through conservation, education, and responsible travel initiatives.
Personal Life
Dr. Dawa Gyalpo Sherpa is based in Darjeeling and Kalimpong, West Bengal.