His non-profit trust, "Youth Foundation" trains young boys and girls from Uttarakhand to join the Indian Army.

[5][9] After completing his graduation, he cleared the CDS exam and joined the Fourth Battalion of Garhwal Rifles Regiment as Second Lieutenant in 1992.

[citation needed] Colonel Kothiyal (then Major) was part of the first team of the Indian Army that successfully summited the Mount Everest in 2001, under the leadership of Brigadier Krishan Kumar AVSM.

[citation needed] On 13 May 2003, then Major not caring for his personal safety; displayed raw courage and killed off charging 4 terrorists with accurate fire.

Fighting harsh weather and inhospitable conditions, his team unfurled the Indian Flag at the peak of Manaslu on 9 May 2011.

[13] In 2012, Colonel Kothiyal led a team of seven female officers from Indian army and successfully scaled the world's highest peak for the second time.

He is credited with taking charge of the restoration process of Kedarpuri the shrine area at Kedarnath, at an elevation of more than 11,000 feet supervising more than 1000 workers who worked hard in harsh sub zero climate.

[17] While working in Kedarnath, Colonel Kothiyal had recruited a few young men from nearby villages to assist him.

[19] In 2018, Colonel Kothiyal took voluntary retirement from army to focus on social work through Youth Foundation.