Rohan Abraham is our very own Jack Reacher, in the North East. Equipped with more than one toothbrush, love for hospitality and the North East, this tall, dark and handsome young man made Nagaland his home, in 2014. His socially responsible travel planning agency ‘India Trail’, is headquartered at Kohima, Nagaland. The logo is as captivating as its tag line – Discover India. Responsibly.
So what drove this successful consultant, who worked for some of the best names in the industry such as Arthur Andersen, Ernst & Young and Grant Thornton, to give up his decade-long career? “It was a well thought and planned decision to move out of corporate life. What was unplanned was what I would do next. A decade was long enough and I got bored with the routine in the corporate world. I must admit that I took a lot of corporate lessons and a fantastic network of people from this industry. I wanted to give back and make a difference to the place I live in, and the people around me. I served a five and half-month long notice period, ensured I completed all my responsibilities and then took a year off to think. I visited Arunachal Pradesh, and this is where I did a lot of thinking and fell in love with the place too.”
Almost sounding like an Amitabh Bachchan, who had spouted similar wisdom in a Bollywood movie, Rohan shares “There are two kinds of people – one who make wealth and use that to make more wealth. The other, who make wealth and share all of it for greater good. But then there are people like me in the middle – who want to create wealth and do our bit for the society too.”
What followed next was his first venture, Pledgeback Advisory Services, followed by India Trail. Pledgeback worked with NGOs, social enterprises and start-ups. Rohan used his advisory and consulting skills to help these organisations restructure and improve their management and operating processes, website building, effective use of financial resources and advising the board on strategic issues.
But as we all know, challenges are part of the organic system of the Universe. And Rohan too faced his own share of challenges. “Learning how to run a business was my biggest challenge. You are as good as what you bring. You need a lot of self-discipline and motivation to keep the focus strong. You also need to create a fine balance of your expectations, and ensure quality work is being delivered. Many times your patience is tested and I have just learnt to work differently,” he shares.
India Trail in the North East was a natural choice for Rohan. “I have been interested in hospitality from my school days. I enjoy being around people. Most of my college friends were from the North East. There was already a pre-existing comfort factor. The trip to Arunachal Pradesh convinced me. I came with a vision minus the funding, land or experience. I looked for a service, which can grow as a brand, one which is relatively unexplored and mature and one that people would love to experience. Travel Planning in the North East was the best option that catered to my vision.”
“My immediate and extended family believed in me and stood by me through all the challenges. They were my foremost advocates and all of this would not be possible without their support and love,” he adds.
Travel Planning would be a term that would restrict what India Trail offers its guests. Yes, they plan travel experiences, but they also want to build on the inventory of experiences to offer guests the best of journeys in the North East. Currently, India Trail travel packages are applicable to the states of Nagaland, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
“We spend a lot of time with our guests understanding their needs in great depth. We use established facilities in each of these states to deliver the ultimate experience to our guests,” shares Rohan.
So, what is responsible tourism that India Trail prides itself on? “We are very careful with the needs and expectations of our guests. We have spent a lot of time visiting villages and speaking to the councils, the elders, the church, the youth and the businesses. We want to provide our guests the most authentic experience of local life and culture. It works best when we have locals as an active and enthusiastic participant. We are responsible with the choice of places and people we work with. The journeys are only to those villages that welcome our guests and us. We also ensure our guests respect the communities, which they visit. The only impact we want to have is a positive one to the place and the lives of the locals.”
How diverse are the clients who book an experience with India Trail? “We have an interesting mix of clientele. We have families, group of friends (all women groups too) and single travellers. Our cost is relatively high and the reason is not to make a big margin. We believe in remunerating our staff and vendors well. They not only appreciate the remuneration but it also builds a sense of loyalty, translating into memorable journeys for our guests.”
True to his words, guests who have made journeys with India Trail have nothing but the best to speak about it. Every review speaks not just of the sheer beauty of the North East and their life-changing experiences, but also of the personal, professional, detailed and well-organised work of the entire team at India Trail.
Rohan believes that there is a world inside North East that is waiting to be explored. “The common perception of the North East as being under-developed, poor, unsafe and aggressive is completely untrue,” clarifies Rohan. “People here are amazingly warm and welcoming. Once travellers shed the assumptions, they will witness paradise on earth.”
Rohan shares two good reasons to visit Nagaland. “The number one reason is to take a drive with us,” he smiles. “The people are wonderful. The place is divine. Naga food is healthy and delicious. The Hornbill Festival is a visual treat. The place is laced with a lot of history, especially, memories of during the World War II.” At this point, he requests me to look up Battle of Kohima and Battle of the Tennis Court. True to his words, the more I read and refreshed my history lessons, the more I longed to visit Nagaland. I began to respect this place for the history it holds deep under its green cover.
India Trail recently started a walking initiative called ‘Walk Nagaland’. The idea is to get people to walk and bring them together. “The first walk, I walked alone. The second time we had six, which grew to nine in the third. The next walk we have more people joining in. This is another reason to visit Nagaland,” he smiles.
Rohan’s long-time friend David Angami joined India Trail in 2013. Together, they are working hard to create the most special travel experiences for their guests. A look at Rohan’s or India Trail’s Instagram (@rohankabraham, @india.trail) will convince most people out there to pack their bags and head to the pristine lands of the North East.
Does he have any other passions beyond India Trails? “I love what I do. All my energies are channelised into India Trail. It is my passion.” Single and handsome, Rohan credits his good health to the healthy Naga cuisine, a lot of walking and a regular workout.
Currently, the Hornbill Festival (November 27- December 14, 2015) is keeping Rohan and India Trail busy with a large number of guests flying in to witness this magic and creation of nature. “Life is more fun now.”
When you sign off on that emotion, you know you are living and loving life.
You can find more about India Trail at www.indiatrail.org.
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