Gaurav Bhan Bhatnagar
I believe India can be best experienced through its stories. And what better way could there be than to do it responsibly with the local communities. How about living with the indigenous tribes of North East India to camping with the nomads in Ladakh to doing hands on crafts in Rajasthan? Yes, that is the travel philosophy I am taking about where you go back with a piece of India and its people.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"We specialize in Rural Travel, Homestays, Cultural immersion tours (crafts, dances & songs, hands on experiences), Tailor made tours, High school/ University tours, Tours for senior citizens and wellness experience in Himalayas."
How did you get involved in travel?
"I was a software engineer working in a day job since 2006 in India and UK. When I came back to India in 2010, I went on a holiday with friends to a village in Rajasthan. It surprised me that not many people experience India under its many layers. I also discovered that the many myths about India were not entirely true. Seven years ago, I started pondering over the idea of doing immersive cultural tours in villages of India where the travellers could go beyond the usual tourist circuits. What was once a dream is now a reality wherein The Folk Tales focuses on giving your first hand immersive experiences in India. Our guides in remote regions of India are passionate about their villages, and we are lucky to have them with us because they are the real eyes, ears and soul of our tours. In many cases I personally come with you. The Folk Tales is all about stories of places, people and local culture, which can truly unfold India to you.
I have personally travelled in SE Asia and Europe, and have done many motorbiking expeditions in India. My dream is to drive on my motorbike from India to Europe through the silk route."
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"I was driving on the Mae Hong Son loop in Northern Thailand from Chiang Mai to Pai. It was the first time that I was doing long distance motorbiking, therefore I was slow. It was already night and I had not reached my destination. I lost my way and reached some other random village. I had passport, cash and camera with me, and was a little afraid of being mugged. But, I walked up to a house and rang the bell. The young lady who came out did not understand my language, neither did I understand hers. But she understood that I was lost and called up a friend to guide me to Pai. While her friend came, we chatted in sign language and watched some constellations in the sky. Her friend came at 10 in the night and guided me all the way to my accommodation in Pai which was over 20 km away. All of this happened without a common language between either of us, and I was blown by this experience."
Gaurav Bhan's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice
South India is a hot, steaming, colorful mix of untamed nature and mesmerizing culture. This tour will immerse you in some of the more exotic traditions of peninsula India: the...
With two weeks in India, travelers will have enough time to get intimately acquainted with a handful of key cities and sites. To get the most from your stay, you'll want to...
Recent trip reviews for Gaurav Bhan
Culture and (mountain)nature in India
India
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Aug 19 - Sep 3, 2019
During our stay in India we had regular contact and he always informed us when needed. What we also liked was the fact that his organization had an eye... Read more
Thanks Robin. That's a lovely review. I have noted all points of your feedback. I look forward to hosting you again in future. And this time I will definitely meet :)
Tour of North India and Rajasthan
India
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Mar 2 - Mar 14, 2019
Thank you for the review and for all the photos Julie :) We enjoyed hosting you too. Do visit again to another part of India. There is so much more to see.
Trip to India
India
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Feb 25 - Mar 5, 2019
Gaurav was able to negotiate the minefield of bureaucracy needed to obtain the permits for our party. The travel arrangements were adequate - given the limited availability of tourist vehicles in India. The accomodation was also adequate - given the limited availability ( or even non-existent ) 3*, 4* and 5* hotels in Arunachal. Travelling in... Read more
Thanks Naresh, glad that you and whole family enjoyed the trip. I do agree that Arunachal is still one of the most rugged places with limited options in hotels and road conditions. But we are hopeful that within few years the infrastructure will improve. Do visit India again. There are diverse places and experiences in terms of culture with good infrastructure.
Buddha Tour
India
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Jul 13 - Jul 25, 2018
Guarav is amazing. He listened to what we wanted and put together a trip that was exactly what we asked for and much more. When any problems arose, he immediately responded and took care of them. He was always available to us. We loved listening to the monks chanting at the Dalai Lama's temple in Dharamshala. We enjoyed the beauty of sunrise over the Ganges in Varanasi. We explored the temples in Bodhgaya and the ruins in Sarnath. It was all the more interesting to hear Guarav speak of his life and the daily lives of the people we saw in this part of India. It was a fascinating adventure.
Hey Janet. It was amazing to meet, and we still miss both the lovely young ladies. Come back soon for some other part of India :)