Himani Shah (Courtesy: Facebook Page, The Royal Family Nepal)

Himani Shah, formerly known as Crown Princess Himani Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, is a member of the former Nepalese royal family and a prominent social activist

Born Himani Singh, on 1 October, 1976, she comes from a distinguished royal lineage with roots in both Nepal and India. Her father, Raja Vikram Singh of Sikar (a princely state in Rajasthan, India), belongs to a historic Rajput dynasty, and her mother, Rani Bipula Singh, hails from the former royal family of Bajhang in Nepal.

She married Paras Shah, the former heir apparent to the Nepalese throne, on 25 January 2000. Together, they have three children: Purnika Shah (born December 12, 2000). Hridayendra Shah (born July 30, 2002) and Kritika Shah (born October 16, 2004).

After the Nepali monarchy was abolished in 2008, Himani turned her focus toward humanitarian work. On 28 September 2010, she founded the Himani Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life across Nepal through programs in education, health, disaster relief, livelihood development, children’s welfare, senior support, and environmental conservation. Under her leadership, the Trust has carried out wide-reaching initiatives—from earthquake and flood relief to maternal health and community development.

Himani Shah continues to be widely respected for her commitment to social service and compassionate leadership, earning recognition both in Nepal and internationally for her philanthropic contributions.

Her National Honours are 

• Member of the Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu, 1st class (23/10/2001).
• Member of the Order of Om Rama Patta (07/07/2004).
• King Gyanendra Investiture Medal (04/06/2001).

Himani Trust

Since its founding in 2010, the Himani Trust has implemented multiple humanitarian programs in over 50 districts across Nepal, focusing on disaster relief, healthcare, education, and social welfare. 

Disaster Relief & Reconstruction

The Trust is a major first responder during natural calamities:

• 2015 Earthquake: Provided relief materials to victims in 22 locations and reconstructed the Shree Bhawani Secondary School in Gorkha using quake-proof designs.
• 2023 Jajarkot/Bajhang Earthquakes: Distributed blankets, cooking utensils, and 1,250 units of nutritious food to affected families.
• Floods & Fires: Delivered relief to flood victims in Surkhet (2013), Parsa/Bara (2017), and established temporary shelters for those displaced by the Boudha-Sindhupalchowk settlement crisis.
• COVID-19 Response: Distributed health support kits to frontline workers (police, journalists, health workers) and provided food to thousands of needy families. 

Health & Sanitization

• Clean Water Campaign: Distributed thousands of self-filtration water bottles to school children and installed large water filtration tanks in schools and quarantine centers.
• Medical Camps: Conducted free health camps in remote areas, providing access to specialists (gynecologists, heart specialists, dentists) for over 18,000 people.
• Ambulance Donation: Provided essential ambulance services in regions like Inaruwa, which has served over 3,000 patients since its deployment. 

Education & Youth Empowerment

• Stationery Distribution: Regularly provides school bags, notebooks, and hygiene kits to thousands of students, including a 2022 initiative for 3,700 students in Gorkha.
• Panda Program: Partnered with the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) to improve foundational learning conditions in rural community schools.
• Brain Drain to Brain Gain: An initiative aimed at creating an economic ecosystem to encourage Nepali youth to build their careers within the country. 

Social Welfare & Environment

• Elderly Care: Established the Bhadrakali Gurukul in Malekhu, the region's first dedicated old-age care facility.
• Nutrition: Launched the Poshilo Khana Campaign, providing nutritious food packs to 4,000 children and elderly people across 43 districts.
• Environmental Conservation: Aims to plant 10,000 fruit-bearing trees annually to support local agro-entrepreneurs and combat climate change.

The Himani Trust is currently advancing two major infrastructure and sustainability initiatives: a specialized maternal health facility in Jumla and a sustainable "Smart Village" model in Lalitpur. 

Birthing Center (Jumla)

Located in Guthichaur Rural Municipality-1 (Manisanghu), this project addresses high maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the remote Karnali region. Former Crown Princess Himani and Prince Hridayendra laid the foundation stone in June 2025. The facility, consisting of two buildings designed to provide safe delivery services and accommodation for families from 9 different settlements, is estimated at NPR 1.5 crore (approx. $112,000 USD). It aims to eliminate home births in unsanitary conditions for thousands of local residents who previously lacked reliable healthcare. 

Smart Village Project (Lalitpur)

The Trust that has identified Dalchoki and Sankhu in the Konjyosom Rural Municipality for development is a model that aims to make rural communities self-sustainable by integrating modern technology with traditional livelihoods. As its core strategy, the trust raised NPR 1.26 million through an auction of Himani Shah's original paintings ("Mujur" and "Asha Ko Kiran") to fund water systems for 300 students and 200 villagers in Sankhu. The project focuses on organic farming, tourist home-stays, and renewable energy to create local income, and the profits from these activities are "ploughed back" into improving local health and education facilities. 

Reference, Himanitrust.org.np and Wikipedia