Art of Operating Tours and choosing Tour operators!

With the increase in age and consequent availability of time and resources, people have started to catch up with their hitherto hidden ambitions of looking around and that perhaps explains the overall improvements in the Tourism sector across the world. India, being so naturally blessed with varied culture and traditions attract more with her unique bouquet of recipe that changes with every region, it is no surprise that the tourism industry is bursting at the seam. But, such demand also gives room for fly-by-night operators and with the travelling public more informed through technological support and web based information, it would be difficult for such operators to sustain and so in a world that is more moving towards the Malthusian theory of the 'survival of the fittest' , only the best will attract good customers, who invariable turn not only a repeat customer but also recommend good services they received to others. So, a prudent operator instead of sinking money in marketing and untenable promises, could well focus on offering satisfying services to the customers who chose them and the rest would automatically follow.

I have been an active backpacker for over seven years now and would have done around 25+ tours mainly across southern but also include some parts of North and Western India, with East still beckoning. As a travelling customer, I would like to choose a tour operator based on the following (in that order) :

1. Preparedness / Planning
2. Facilities offered
3. Food
4. Ease of travel and
5. Cost

With the above as basic parameters, sometime in Dec'18, I was hunting for a tour operator for visiting Badrinath and Kedarnath, at a time when I was not even aware that two more places would make it as a coveted and well yearned Char Dham yatra. Among the names shared by my friends and well wishers, we were  about to proceed with a Delhi Based operator but few points like their asking Yatris to fend for themselves on some days and last seats availability in the van were holding us back, when one of the contacts said with confidence that if someone were to tick all my boxes it would be this and thus I came across Tirtha Yatra (www.tirthayatra.org) , a Bengaluru based operator.

After some interaction, we firmed up and this is one decision which I never regretted, when we actually underwent their Char Dham Yatra between the 11 and 22nd of Sept, 2019. The organizers were so complete and prepared that it was more like a seasoned team conducting a week long marriage of the Thirties, meeting all the expectations of the bridegroom and the bride teams !

Though my wife and I were making the usual preparations based on our earlier travel experiences, we were slightly concerned that this will be a different tour in view of the places involved, hectic travel, weather, language and food. Just two weeks before the start date came a 15-Page yatra document, which on a cursory glance confirmed that I have hit the bulls eye. The document gave an idea of their preparedness in providing a day-by-day schedule, importance of places being visited , activities to be performed, checklist of items to carry...... and the list was comprehensive.  And five days before the start date a whatsapp group was formed exclusively for this group where ideas and clarifications were freely exchanged. It was a matter of satisfaction that when we landed at New Delhi Airport, the Yatra Director was also there to join us to Dehradun.

Acts of Tirtha Yatra that impressed yatris:

1. Baggage Handling : Of all the other things,  the one that was a hit even at first sight was their baggage handling technique. Each yatri was given a unique 'Generic Room No (GRN) ', which will be mapped to the room allocated to the yatri at every hotel. All the Yatri has to do is to ensure that the tag bearing the GRN is there on all the boxes and within ten minutes of your reaching the room, the luggage will be delivered.  Similarly, while checking out, if the bags are kept outside the room at the specified time (normally 30 minutes before checkout time), they will be loaded into buses. During entire trip of 12 days, none of the 47 yatris reported any loss of baggage- and more importantly the dreaded act of carrying the heavy baggage to the bus was done away with and that was a big relief , particularly to senior citizens and people with hip and knee problems. In my opinion, this is the Unique Selling Proposition of Tirtha Yatra (USP).

2. Seat Allocation: Apart from specified premium seats in the first row, other seats are allocated based on the age of the Yatri and this was communicated even before the start of the yatra, which will remain allocated through the yatra . A point of relief is, seats in the last row are not allocated to anyone and could also be used to store excess hand baggage, if any.

3. Quality of Buses: Both the 27 seater vans were well maintained with seats reclining smoothly and the air conditioner in the bus was always turned on, though much of the travel was on the hills.

4. Drivers: The drivers were well experienced and most courteous to the Yatris with the stepping stool placed by the cleaner almost immediately after the door is opened. Everyone could leave their valuables like Mobile phones and Ipads safely in the vans , as the drivers are in the employment of Tirtha Yatra for many years and absolutely dependable, as we were told and also proved!

5. Food and Cook:  The biggest draw of Tirtha Yatra is their promised Sathvic food, without any onion or garlic and they stuck to this through the yatra. Every day, invariably, a sweet will be served with some cut vegetables as energizer and the food though not extravagant but was good enough for the yatris to maintain their zeal. In short, enough of variety and quantity as we take at home. The most satisfying aspect , personally for me, was the availability of rice and buttermilk on all days at both lunch and dinner! This made the well stocked medical kit redundant through the tour !The cooking team was ever smiling and never reluctant to serve, even allowing passengers to stock coffee/ tea in their mini flask, during long travel. No wonder, satisfied yatris contributed liberally and expressed their gratitude to the cooking team and drivers at the end of the yatra.

6. Pravachan: Another huge attraction of Tirtha Yatra is their daily Satsang or pravachan wherein the Yatra Director gives details of places visited or to be visited. It is learnt that all the Yatra Directors are well informed and equipped with the Sthala Puranas and so every team could enjoy their briefings. Particularly, we were blessed with the presence of Shri Agrani Krishna Dasa , whose mesmerising discourse at all places especially about Ganga Matha, Uttarkashi, Vridha Badri, Pandukeshwar, Badrinath, Kedarnath and Devaprayag were worth visiting again, just to hear him.

7. Tour Schedule: The whole Yatra has been skillfully scheduled to start early, complete the chore leaving enough time in the evening for pravachans, rest and relaxation. As the whole tour was conducted more as a Yatra (as evidenced by the Neivedyam being done before the food is being served), even the Lunch and Dinner are mentioned as Lunch Prasadam and Dinner Prasadam.  The day's travel starts with a group recital of Nrsimha Pranaama -  which is set in such mellifluous tune that it is bound to be followed by all yatris even after the completion of the Yatra. This was followed by the chanting of Vishnu Sahasrnama and thus the mood for the day is always set.

Earlier in the day, a morning wake-up call is followed by baggage placement and a decent breakfast is served with coffee and tea. During travel, every two hours a bio cum tea break is made and thus the strain of travel is never felt, though on some days we travelled for more than 12 hours , maximum being 15 hours and 15 minutes!!

8. Tirtha Yatra specials:

       A. On the first day, the Yatra Director declared that however early we start, supplying hot water for bath is their responsibility and it is to their credit that they never failed on that promise through the yatra.
   
        B. Every yatri was gifted with a Winter jacket and an umbrella , which are very essential for this Yatra.

       C. As a surprise gift, a darshan at Badrinath, by name Vishnu Sahasranama Dharshan was offered to all yatris.

       D.  Further a priceless Badri Yantra , which was sanctified with sankalpa and pooja was presented to every family of Yatris and along with the priceless pravachans and gifted dharshans and tasty food, every yatri had reasons to retire to their home, with heart full of satisfaction and devotion.

Last but not the least, the quality of Yatra Directors and Yatra Coordinators being identified to conduct the Yatra is something one has to experience to relish and enjoy. They are always available for queries, act friendly and attend to your needs. Particularly senior and super senior citizens are given the attention due and the manner in which another yatri who volunteered his services was allocated to accompany a super senior citizen at Kedarnath, was an example to quote.

Anything with quality need to be paid accordingly and as such for the manner in which this tough Yatra of the four major abodes of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath along with the Divya Desams of Joshimutt and Devaprayag, in my opinion, it is reasonably priced and well worth the cost.

I have always boasted of choosing the best after my own analysis, references and filters and am happy that with Tirtha yatra I have hit one more Bulls eye !! For all the fears, apprehensions and anxiety I had, post yatra along with a filled heart, healthy mind and a body with a 'golden fatigue', I retire confidently recommending this operator for such tough treks and trails.

Before signing off , I hasten to add that few months back, Tirtha Yatra was not even known to me and I have no reason to market or take up cudgels for them, as they have more qualified professionals at their disposal. As a satisfied customer, I had shared my good thoughts about the Yatra! As with love, the path of tours also never run smooth! Of course there are some areas with room for improvement, which I am sharing personally with them so that they don't find a place in the feedback from subsequent batch yatris !! With their professional approach, sincere intentions and with a focus to deliver quality tours, I am confident they will act upon constructive feedback .

Jai Badri Vishal ! Jai Kedarnath !