Journey with Meaning: Encounter the Individual Orchestrating Excursions Promoting Strength and Enthusiasm
No Footprints, an experiential tour company co-founded by Harshvardhan and Eesha Singh, has made a significant impact in preserving community-based stories and cultural practices in Mumbai, Delhi, and Jaipur, with a particular focus on queer-centered tours.
Established in 2013, the company's journey began with unconventional tours, including a 5 am walking tour that initially met with skepticism but eventually gained traction. No Footprints was founded with the goal of creating inclusive travel experiences, spotlighting underrepresented and marginalized communities, especially queer voices, in Indian cities.
One of their flagship initiatives is the Queer’s Day Out tour in Mumbai, developed by Eesha Singh in collaboration with queer rights activist Esthappen. This tour is unique in India for centering queer narratives both in storytelling and participation, going beyond typical "queer-friendly" tours that merely target queer audiences.
The tour explores Mumbai’s rich, diverse queer history, engaging actively with members of the queer community to ensure authentic representation and consent in the storytelling process. The tour raises awareness of Bombay’s queer culture, affectionately termed “Bomgay” by locals, by visiting significant sites across South Bombay and fostering conversations that highlight lived experiences of queer individuals.
No Footprints works as an ally, carefully researching and integrating queer histories that were previously underrepresented or ignored in mainstream tourism. Beyond queer tours, No Footprints emphasizes empowerment through community-driven narratives. They collaborate closely with local communities in Mumbai, Delhi, and Jaipur to share stories that reflect their cultural heritage and lived realities, supporting preservation of intangible cultural practices through immersive tourism.
The company's model has set new standards for ethical, participatory travel by involving community members in the narrative process, which enriches the tourism experience and fosters respect and understanding among visitors. No Footprints has helped reclaim and spotlight queer histories and cultural identities in Indian urban contexts through tourism, providing visibility to marginalized voices.
The mission of No Footprints is to preserve disappearing neighborhoods and ways of life, and to bring awareness to the value of cultural preservation. The organization prioritizes community involvement and consent in the creation of its experiences. Plans are underway to build mentorship and training programs for future travel entrepreneurs.
No Footprints has received accolades such as the WTM Global Award for Inclusion and Diversity. In places like Matharpacady and Worli Village, No Footprints works directly with local residents' associations and communities to shape the storytelling. The company also hopes to share their unique approach to storytelling and community involvement with others in the travel industry.
No Footprints now offers over 50 experiences across Mumbai, Delhi, and Jaipur, and has hosted over 45,000 guests. The Queer Day Out tour is a collaborative effort with the queer community, led by queer voices and focused on contemporary issues and struggles. The tour includes workshops, performances, and zine-making, expanding the narrative to include both resilience and joy.
Despite initial resistance, the founders persevered and eventually secured the participation of a travel writer who positively reviewed the tour, leading to increased interest. The Kebab and Curry Walk was created through a dialogue with Bohri restaurateurs, leading to an authentic, community-focused tour. No Footprints' expansion into Delhi and Jaipur includes immersive experiences such as visiting a 200-year-old perfumery and working with marginalised women on art workshops.
In essence, No Footprints stands out as a trailblazer in queer-inclusive and community-centered tourism in India, making a lasting impact on cultural preservation and representation in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Jaipur.
The lifestyle tour company No Footprints, with its focus on community-based stories and cultural practices, offers travel experiences that encompass cultural-travel, especially in their Queer's Day Out tour in Mumbai. This tour, led by queer voices, highlights the rich queer history of the city and promotes cultural preservation by raising awareness about Bombay's queer culture, often referred to as "Bomgay." Besides queer-centered tours, No Footprints emphasizes community-driven narratives, collaborating closely with local communities to share and preserve their cultural heritage in Mumbai, Delhi, and Jaipur.
