There are people who live life, and then there are people who collect it — storing it in photographs, journal entries, lines of code, and the kind of memories that don’t fade. Saroj Pandey is firmly the latter kind of person.
Born and rooted in the breathtaking landscapes of Nepal, Saroj is many things at once: a Web Developer, Software Engineer, Lecturer, Blogger, wandering traveler, and a photographer with a painter’s eye. He wears these titles not as a resume, but as chapters of a single, richly lived story.
The Spark That Started It All
It was June 2003 when a young Saroj walked through the doors of Kantipur City College to begin his undergraduate journey in Computer Science — and in that moment, without quite knowing it, he had stepped onto the highway of IT. What followed was not just a degree, but a love affair with technology that has never cooled. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Application and dove headfirst into the fast-moving current of computers and the internet, riding the wave ever since with enthusiasm and expertise.
But Saroj’s hunger for knowledge didn’t stop there. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in Computer Application, deepening his command of technology, and then did something that reveals the full breadth of his curious mind — he pursued a Master’s degree in Sociology as well. It is a rare and telling combination: a man who understands the logic of machines and the complexity of human societies. Where most people pick a lane, Saroj widened the road.
Today, he carries that passion into classrooms as a Lecturer, into projects as a Software Engineer, and into the digital world as a Web Developer — someone who doesn’t just consume technology, but shapes it, teaches it, and shares it.
CoolSky: The Alter Ego
Online, Saroj moves under the pseudonym CoolSky — an identity he has carefully cultivated across his blog and various corners of the internet. It’s a name that suits him well. Like the sky itself, his interests know no fixed boundary. He is restless, expansive, and always shifting toward something more beautiful just beyond the next ridge.
The Wanderer — And Official Guide — at Heart
Ask Saroj what he loves most, and the answer comes without hesitation: travel. He wants to be as free as a bird, and the open road — or rather, the mountain trail — is where he feels most alive.
What sets Saroj apart from the average adventurer is that his love for Nepal’s landscapes is not only personal — it is official. He is a Nepal Government Approved Tour Guide, a recognition that speaks volumes about his deep knowledge of the country’s geography, culture, history, and trails. He doesn’t just visit places; he understands them at a level few do, and he has earned the credentials to share that understanding with the world.
His travel diary reads like a love letter to Nepal. He has trekked through the misty forests of Mardi Himal, stood humbled before the giants of the Annapurna Base Camp, gazed into the sacred stillness of Gosainkunda Lake, and felt the spiritual pulse of Kalinchwok. He has wandered through the jungles of Chitwan National Park, taken in the sweeping panoramas from Chandragiri and Nagarkot, and soaked in the rustic charm of Kuri Village in Dolakha. His adventures have even carried him beyond Nepal’s borders, all the way to the turquoise waters of Thailand.
Every place he visits leaves a mark on him — and he, in turn, leaves a record of it for the world to see.
Ask Saroj what he loves most, and the answer comes without hesitation: travel. He wants to be as free as a bird, and the open road — or rather, the mountain trail — is where he feels most alive.
Annapurna Circuit is one of the treks in Nepal that defines a true Himalayan adventure, and Saroj has done it in full. He completed the legendary circuit via two of its most dramatic and demanding highlights: the mystical Tilicho Lake and the formidable Thorang La Pass. At an altitude of 4,919 metres, Tilicho is one of the highest lakes in the world — a shimmering jewel of ice-blue water cradled by towering ridges, reached only by those willing to earn it with their legs and their lungs. It is the kind of place that silences you. Then comes Thorang La Pass, standing at a breathtaking 5,416 metres above sea level — one of the highest mountain passes in the world, and the crowning challenge of the Annapurna Circuit. The climb is a test of endurance, altitude, and sheer will. The cold bites, the air thins, and the body protests — but at the top, the Himalayas lay themselves open before you in a panorama so vast and so humbling that every step of the struggle suddenly makes perfect sense.
For Saroj, this was not merely a physical feat. It was a pilgrimage — through ancient trails, remote villages, terraced fields, alpine forests, and the raw, windswept beauty of the high Himalayas. It is the kind of journey that changes the way you see the world, and the way you see yourself.
His travel diary reads like a love letter to Nepal. He has trekked through the misty forests of Mardi Himal, stood humbled before the giants of the Annapurna Base Camp, gazed into the sacred stillness of Gosainkunda Lake, and felt the spiritual pulse of Kalinchwok. He has wandered through the jungles of Chitwan National Park, taken in the sweeping panoramas from Chandragiri and Nagarkot.
Across the Border: Exploring the Soul of India
A traveler of Saroj’s spirit could never confine himself to one country alone. His wanderlust has carried him across the border into the vast, vivid, and endlessly fascinating subcontinent of India — and he has experienced three of its most iconic and contrasting cities.
In Mumbai, he encountered the city that never sleeps — a sprawling metropolis of ambition and energy where Bollywood dreams brush shoulders with the quiet dignity of the common man. The sea-facing promenades, the architectural grandeur of the colonial past, and the electric pulse of the streets left their unmistakable impression.
Then came Goa — a place that operates on an entirely different frequency. Sun-drenched beaches, swaying palms, Portuguese-era churches, and a laid-back coastal rhythm that feels like the whole world has agreed to slow down for a while. For a traveler and photographer like Saroj, Goa is not just a destination; it is a mood.
And then Delhi — India’s ancient, layered, and magnificent capital. A city where Mughal grandeur meets modern India at every corner, where history is not in museums but in the very air you breathe. From the towering minarets to the bustling bazaars of Old Delhi, it is a place that demands your full attention and rewards it generously.
Together, these three cities paint a portrait of India in its full diversity — and Saroj has walked through all three with the curiosity of an explorer and the eye of a photographer.
Across Seas: The Thailand Chapter
His international adventures don’t stop at India. Saroj has also explored the tropical beauty of Thailand, soaking in its azure waters, vibrant culture, and the kind of warmth — both climatic and human — that makes Southeast Asia utterly unforgettable.
Every place he visits leaves a mark on him — and he, in turn, leaves a record of it for the world to see.
Through the Lens: CoolClicks
Saroj has a deep fascination with photography — not confined to any single subject, but free to roam across nature, wildlife, birds, landscapes, and macro worlds. Under his photography brand CoolClicks, his work has found audiences on Instagram, Flickr, 500px, Shutterstock, and ImagePasal. Whether it’s the golden hour painting a Himalayan peak, a rare bird perched in silence, or the intricate geometry of a dew-kissed flower — Saroj captures it all with the eye of someone who genuinely believes the world is worth looking at slowly.
Beyond the Screen and the Summit
When he isn’t coding, teaching, or trekking, Saroj can be found watching movies, following sports, losing himself in music, or working through a book of any genre. He has a quiet collector’s soul too — classic stamps and foreign currencies are among his cherished treasures, each one a small story from somewhere in the world — perhaps a rupee note from Delhi, a baht coin from Bangkok, or a weathered stamp from a Himalayan village post office.
His academic contributions extend beyond the classroom as well — through published research, handouts, and presentations, he continuously gives back to the community of learners that shaped him.
What makes Saroj truly rare is the way his worlds intersect. His Master’s in Sociology gives him the lens to understand the people and communities he encounters on his travels — the shepherds of the high pastures, the teahouse keepers of Thorang La, the fishermen of Goa, the street vendors of Old Delhi. His expertise in technology allows him to document and share those encounters with the world. And his government certification as a Tour Guide bridges the two — making him not just a visitor in the landscapes he loves, but a trusted steward and storyteller of them.
He is, in the truest sense, a techie with a sociologist’s heart, a mountaineer’s grit, and a traveler’s soul.
A Philosophy to Live By
Beneath all the adventure and achievement is a man grounded in a beautifully simple worldview. He believes that happiness is not found in grand gestures, but in the quiet, consistent choice to use your talents for good. As he himself puts it:
“Dream what you want, find happiness wherever life takes you, be able to make the world a better place. It’s not necessary to think of large change in the society — but use the will you have and use your talents to somehow make others’ lives a little better. Love the people, love your country, and love the world.”
Saroj Pandey is not just a professional with an impressive portfolio. He is a reminder that a life fully lived looks a lot like curiosity with a camera, code with a conscience, boots weathered by Himalayan trails, sandy feet on Goan shores, and the wisdom to understand — and deeply cherish — the people and places you encounter along the way.
Some chase careers. Some chase summits. Saroj Pandey chases horizons — and wherever he goes, he always finds something worth bringing back.
