Our explorers have a knack for asking the right questions, helping you ingest loads of local insight and taking you to places you wouldn’t have otherwise seen.
Explorer Jai!
Jai loves to take long walks in the hidden alleys of the city, discuss the problems of protecting historic architecture and look for redemptive analogies while chatting up anyone from the local milkman to the temple priest. He is a former director of a Hindu Studies & Hindi Language program for an international University who cut his teeth in India many years ago as a single guy working among the desitute and drug addicted in Old Delhi. Jai is a life member of INTACH who has resided in India for over 12 years. His own interests and concern about the cultural heritage of the city lead Jai and Aarti, his Gujarati wife and VaranasiWalks owner, to design culturally interactive insider walks in Varanasi.
Explorer Nandan!
Nandan grew up right across from the Ganges River in the lanes and alleys of Varanasi and has a degree in Commerce. Aside from starting two NGO’s (Sanjeevni Booti and ChanceIndia) focused on health issues relating to blood borne disease and the poor and neglected, Nandan is also a Gov’t of India licensed tour guide. He is also attached to the University of Venice study centre in Varanasi as a research assistant and translator. Nandan is always ready to share his incredible insight about the Varanasi underbelly as well as local Kashi folklore and food with you!
Explorer Garima!
Garima is a local Banarasi lardki (girl) who completed her studies in Hotel Managment here in Varanasi. She shifted gears and began working on a Masters in Social Work so she can get down to the nitty gritty and assist the marginalised in Samanvaya, a local NGO, rather than serve you folks at the front desk. That being so, she still manages to get some time in with us when she is available. She especially enjoys to assist women travellers and groups in understanding Indian culture, religion and politics in the City of Light!
Explorer Siddhant!
Siddhant is tour leader from USA who is currently an Environmental Science Masters student at Banaras Hindu Univeristy. He keeps his Hindi sharp by volunteering his time in an ashram and taking walks in the city with our clients. Siddhant is a musician, who has lived in India for over 10 years, and has a deep understanding of the symbiotic nature of the peoples of the city in relation to the river as sacred space. If we can pry him away from his studies he may be able to join you for a walk and give you some understanding of the Ganga river in relation to pollution issues and spirituality.
Explorer Lijo!
Lijo is from the big city of Delhi who came to Varanasi as a student, joined Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith University in Fine Arts and promptly dropped out to work with a local community program and ashram. After gaining a Benaras Hindu University Yoga accreditation, and stint as an art teacher in a local school, he and his wife developed a successful import-export business that focuses on fair trade with traditional artisans selling handcrafted art products. Lijo is currently AWOL in USA riding motorcycles between Sturgis, SD and Gillette, WY with his American wife’s biker family and hopes to return to India sometime in 2012.