"Connect with Nature to help the environmentalist within you to grow"

"Trekking helps you bring your mental focus back. It fills you with a sense of peace that enables you to come back to the civilization and get back to the normal daily life with much more vigour", says Sakshi Srivastava Bhattacharyya, Founder of Spirit of Trekkers.

Currently based in Delhi, Sakshi served in the Indian Army for six years from 1998 to 2004. Thereafter, she started her own security agency based in Kolkata. Two years ago, she winded it up to take up another entrepreneurial plunge.

Sakshi Bhattacharyya

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From army to entrepreneurship

"I have travelled the length and breadth of India and spoken to people living in these areas. This is a plus point because not many people have the chance to go to so many different places", she tells us about her army background and how that helped her passion for trekking into the inception of her venture.

With her venture, she aspires to share her trekking experiences with as many people as possible by giving them a first-hand experience of trekking in the Himalayas.

"Trekking helps you bring your mental focus back. It fills you with a sense of peace that enables you to come back to the civilization and get back to the normal daily life with much more vigour" - Sakshi

She ardently believes that her stint with the defence services has played a monumental role in shaping her and helping her kicking off her entrepreneurial journey. She says that the army training changes one's outlook towards a lot of things. "We don't see whether somebody is a male or female. We see people as individuals", she said adding that the training also makes one very determined and the honour, dignity and respect that accompanies army people takes them forward in life.

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The enriching experience

Trekking in the Himalayas is an enriching experience. "When you are trekking, you are out of communication with anyone. That's when you rely on nature for your survival", she says, adding that connecting with nature helps the environmentalist within us to grow.

Challenges

Sakshi had to grapple with some challenges during her entrepreneurial journey. She feels that it is a new thing in the new scenario as there is a sheer dearth of people who have actually gone into trekking and adventure.

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"There is no proper business plan laid out for this kind of a service. There are no specific guidelines laid out", she says talking about a few of them.

Role of Technology

The rise of technology and social media, however, has been a great boon in helping her spread the word. She feels that technology increases one's level of awareness and exposure.

"If you aren't using technology to your advantage, you are lagging behind", she shares.

As far as the future of her venture is concerned, she believes in the power of technology that will help her in reaching out to people all over the globe. She also intends to cover the entire length of the Himalayas and has also tied up with Nepal Himalayas for the same.

"When you are trekking, you are out of communication with anyone. That's when you rely on nature for your survival."- Sakshi

Planning to target people from age-group 16 to 60 years, she is hopeful that more and more people show interest in connecting with their roots - with nature.

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