Yasin M. Zargar

I was born and brought up in Kashmir, India in a beautiful village surrounded by the beauty of the Pir Panjal mountains. My parents were passionate about education, they did everything to encourage me: when I finished primary school, my grandfather and father stayed awake all night to make a copper ink pot for me. They gilded it with nickel and gave it to me as a present.

This has left a lasting impression on my mind, which I still relive at times. I graduated in sciences, and my parents wanted me to become a doctor. Not knowing where it would lead, I took a job in a hotel and then another in a travel company earning the equivalent of £2.75 a month. I read everything I could about destinations and cultures, and especially about Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. This stood me in good stead: I was invited to accompany a group from the Harvard Travel Club in Boston (USA) to the mountains of Kashmir, and then to talk about the Himalayas at their annual event.

I accompanied many tourist groups to Ladakh, and, as I drove through the high passes and along the banks of the River Indus, the river, its varied forms, and its ability to nurture life, stuck in my mind. The river was at the heart of my dream when I set up Indus in 1995.

Bespoke travel to India was little-known in those days: most holiday makers travelled in group tours arranged by major tour operators. I wanted Indus’ trips to be much more personal than this. Indus is celebrating its 29th year in business, and the company is supported by an excellent team of local and dedicated destination specialists. We are just like a family, a happy bunch of people working together to bring diverse tourism products to our valued customers, many of whom come back time and again, having built a personal relationship with us.

Indus Experiences has grown, and now, due to my excellent team, I am able to research and develop new tours. I am totally committed to Earthshine subjects – real eco-tourism- how our planet lives and breathes. Thus I have developed some fascinating tours on geology and real wildlife nature far off the beaten tourist tracks. Other projects include Remembrance tours, and a fascinating tour for families to discover their ancestors from the Raj – their ‘Indian roots’ via an historical tour of the cemeteries throughout Asia!

I’m also deeply involved with Tarun Bharat Sangh – an organisation in Rajasthan about conservation of much needed water in Rajasthan, and my adoption of Vidya Bhawan School Srinagar in 2012.
However, I still love to plan and design client holiday itineraries – I find it’s almost as exciting as the journey itself! I would welcome the opportunity for you to discuss your clients’ holiday requirements with our destination experts by telephone, e-mail or better yet come for a cup of tea at our office in Harrow.