Nepal: From Hippie Heaven to High-Altitude Raves

In 2017, the legendary DJ Paul Oakenfold transformed Everest Base Camp into the world’s highest dance floor. Imagine this: at an altitude of 5,380 meters, he streamed a live performance of epic progressive house beats on Facebook. It was a moment that not only raised funds for charity but also captured the world’s attention. But here’s the kicker—despite this remarkable achievement, Nepal’s dance music scene has been struggling to keep the momentum going. Why?

Paul Oakenfold and DJ Ranzen at Everest Base Camp (EBC) for Oakdenfold SoundTrek

Nepal has always been a haven for free spirits. Back in the 1960s, it was known as "Hippie Heaven," a place where legal cannabis and adventurous travelers created a bohemian energy that still lingers. Fast forward to the turn of the millennium, and you had secret psychedelic raves in the jungles beneath the Himalayas, and underground house/techno nights in Kathmandu. This is where things get interesting.

Meet Pravin Rayamajhi, a Berlin techno evangelist and a Tresor disciple who returned to Kathmandu in 2003. He transformed a bungalow from 1905 near the Royal Palace into an upscale restaurant that secretly doubled as a dance music haven. "It was rebellion," he recalls, explaining how dance music offered an escape during Nepal’s civil war.

Former Proghouse evangelist and DJ turned Minister with Former Prime Minster of Australia Tony Abott

Then there’s Biraj Bahadur Bista, a prog-house disciple who got hooked on Sasha & Digweed’s mixes during his college days in the U.S. in the 1990s. He dove into Kathmandu’s underground dance music scene and, in his 30s, made a remarkable transition to become the Minister of Science and Technology. Enter Ranzen, the sorcerer of Nepal’s music scene, whose unforgettable musical collaboration with Paul Oakenfold at Everest Base Camp continues to resonate.

In 2017, Oakenfold and Ranzen, along with a crew of intrepid ravers, embarked on a 10-day trek to Everest Base Camp for SoundTrek. This high-altitude mission aimed to raise awareness of climate change and funds for global charities. "Moments like that only happen when the spiritual forces align," Ranzen recalls.

For Oakenfold, it was "life-changing." This incredible journey is captured in the documentary *SoundTrek: A Music Journey to Mount Everest* (2021), which chronicles Oakenfold’s milestone as the first DJ to perform at EBC. The same year, an album featuring 21 stirring tracks was released, now available on Spotify.

Fast forward to today, and Nepal’s dance music dream is still on pause. Political instability and rising populism have intensified the suppression of cultural expression, with dance music often dismissed as "Western decadence." But the spirit of electronic music refuses to die. Ranzen is leading this renegade revival, headlining mega gigs and curating the Bhoomi Folk Festival. Bista, once a politician, has shifted gears to full-time activism, arguing that the government is ignoring a major tourism opportunity: the fusion of legal cannabis and electronic music. "Goa’s government is investing in a permanent electronic music zone," he points out.

Bista and Rayamahji discussing the dance music landscape in Nepal during a lunch interview for this article

Meanwhile, Rayamajhi sees electronic music as an economic catalyst for Nepal, especially with the governments of Goa and Thailand investing to attract international dance music festivals—Tomorrowland is coming to Thailand in 2026.

The stars are aligned, and the world is ready to rave in the Himalayas. One policy shift could trigger the music industry's Revolution 2.0 in Nepal. Will Nepal seize this opportunity and become the next global dance music hotspot? The potential is undeniable.