If the movies are to be believed, one travels to the wilderness to seek solace, to understand themselves and in a quest of finding out who they truly are. Movies like Emile Hirsch’s Into The Wild and Reese Witherspoons’s Wild only add to this narrative of seeking self-actualization through disconnecting with the hustle bustle of the cities and embracing a close relationship with nature and the wild.
While not all of us can take such extreme steps on our personal journeys to understanding ourselves, the wilderness is a great way to explore, to slow down and embrace the biodiversity around us.
Combining their love for the natural world and diverse indigenous culture of India’s forest, desert and mountain communities and food, textile and art of native communities, Avijit and Monika Sarkhel founded Vana Safaris. They say, “Vana meaning forest in Sanskrit is the cradle of life from which food, art and culture are derived; the place where our own travel journey began and the inspiration for the experiences we curate.”
Vana Safaris give you the chance to experience wildlife intimately and immerse yourself in the cultural experiences of the region across India, Nepal, Bhutan and Thailand. They offer an extensive range of curated wildlife safaris whether its the big 5 mammals you want to see, the big cats, the endemic species or endemic birds and butterflies among others. They also offer trips through rural heartlands like hamlets of Indian Himalaya, the Gond and Baiga tribal communities of central India, the village life of South India among others. You can also choose to take lifestyle journeys with them if you wish to experience the art, textile and crafts of a region or the culinary traditions of a particular area.
Vana Safaris believes in the social and environmental impact they can have. Thus donating 10% of their profits to social and environmental causes as well as working directly with small organisations and individuals who need help. Understanding the importance of reforestation especially in times like these, they plant and protect a sapling for each guest that travels to India with them.
You can check them out here.
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