The Vana Safaris Founders
Avijit & Monika
VANA meaning ‘forest’ in Sanskrit is the cradle of life from which food, art & culture are derived; the place where our own journey began & the inspiration for the experiences we curate.
Avijit & Monika Kapoor Sarkhel - the founders of Vana Safaris, share a deep passion for the natural world & the diverse indigenous cutures that India’s forests harbour through the people who live in it or in the near & surrounding areas.
With over 40 combined years of immersive travel & years of experience in creating unique itineraries for leading tour operators from across the globe, they have also nurtured their own interest in the natural heritage, as well as develop a valuable network of friends & associates in a wide number of specialised fields.
Avijit is a naturalist at heart. In the early stages of his career, he spent most of his time guiding in India’s tiger reserves, particularly central India, where he returns frequently. He has travelled widely in the Himalayas, in search of wildlife & culture. Avijit is a keen birder and has seen over 1100 species in the sub-continent. Avijit is the first naturalist to have designed tours for small mammals & cats in India. More recently, his explorations through the wild habitats of the mountainous North-Eastern states have enriched Vana Safaris' ability to offer new and interesting tours to this poorly explored region. Avijit has been to Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and has traveled across these countries in search of wildlife & culture and understood how these countries work and built excellent relationships at personal and professional level.
Monika has spent much of her travel career researching and designing bespoke food, textile and art tours to specialist international groups, which in turn, has enabled her to deepen her own interest and understanding of her native culture. Monika loves to cook, often experimenting with local ingredients and lending her support to organisations looking to develop their menus. She is inspired by the work of sustainable grassroots organisations that seek to preserve India’s natural and cultural heritage, involving herself in volunteering programs across the country. Monika creates interesting nutritious & naturally sourced food recipes through her other brand Miraimaia.
Avijit and Monika created VANA Safaris as a way to share their knowledge and enthusiasm of their homeland with like-minded, discerning travelers. They partner with international tour operators to bring you the very best experiences, and select the best guides and logistics partners for the tours they offer. They also support a number of charitable causes.
VANA Safaris Pvt Ltd is a registered travel company as per the Companies Act. When you travel with VANA Safaris, your money is safe and secure.