About Us

Exploring Bastar, Empowering Communities

Unexplored Bastar is a travel startup based on social entrepreneurship model from Bastar, Chhattisgarh. It is focused on sustainable tourism through community-based approach.In 2011, Unexplored Bastar started as a Facebook page but its actual journey as a Tourism Promotion Agency and Travel organization started in 2016 when one of the co-founders of its Facebook page, Jeet Singh Arya, decided to leave the corporate job and work on ground level.

With the main objective for the tourism promotion of Bastar by involving local tribal community in the tourism sector, Unexplored Bastar has been working tirelessly along with endorsing the various natural as well as historical sites present in Bastar and its endowed tribal culture to the populous in Indian subcontinent and outside.

Crafting Curated Journeys Through Bastar

It started offering exclusively customized Bastar tour packages through social media infusion. With an active participation of various stakeholders in these tours categorized under Bastar Eco Tours, Bastar Adventure Tours, Bastar Leisure Tours, Bastar Backpack Tours and Bastar Ethno Tours or Bastar Cultural tour, it enabled successful implementation of the same proposed activities.

Personalized tour experiences born from community collaboration and deep local immersion.

Unexplored Bastar commits to bring in the required change in behavioural traits of people towards ecosystem. Through responsible tourism practices, we commit to conserve the cultural and biodiversity heritage of Bastar.

Unexplored Bastar also started organizing several other promotional events with the support of Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, District Administration of Bastar and Dantewada and other local partners in the lieu to change the perception of the visitors who think of Bastar as a conflict zone. The entire approach is also followed by large-scale involvement of local tribal people with the support of APS, an NGO (tie-up with Unexplored Bastar) from Bastar which in addition led to generate livelihoods for them. Presently, Unexplored Bastar is impacting lives of 1800+ tribal and rural youths of Bastar and other districts from entire Chhattisgarh. Arya Prerana Samiti (APS), our partner for the capacity building and hospitality has trained approximately 1000+ local tribal people in the tourism and hospitality sector to enhance their employment opportunities in Chhattisgarh. This included activities like providing stay to tourists at their homes, their assistance as local guides and an opportunity to sell their mass-produced handicrafts to tourists visiting Bastar. These local communities are the real service providers of Unexplored Bastar for implementation of different innovations at the grass-root level. They work structurally by forming Self Help Groups (SHGs) at 15 different districts and 50+ locations in entire Chhattisgarh some being very difficult terrain. Hence, Unexplored Bastar has created ample opportunities for sustainable employment of local tribal youth.

Our Objectives

discover the difference of conscious travel

Reliving
Adventure

Ecological diversity of Bastar provides ample opportunities for relieving adventure. Trekking through the lush green forests and camping under open sky gives the much required adrenaline rush

Authentic Tribal Experience

As Bastar is the soil of tribal communities ,hence Unexplored Bastar showcases the tribal culture – their festivals, local fairs, handicrafts, rituals (Devgudis & Matagudis) and their lifestyle (tribal homestays and tribal food) to explorers.

Appreciating
Nature

Bastar is blessed with dense forests which offers the tourists ample opportunities to get sensitized to the biotic elements of our natural ecosystem.

Our Vision

To build a tourism model rooted in sustainability, inclusivity, and cultural integrity — one that empowers local communities while offering travelers authentic and transformative experiences.

As Seen In

Trusted voices and leading platforms that have featured Unexplored Bastar — building credibility through recognition.

Media appearances

Our Journey Through Bastar’s Heartbeat

Discover how Unexplored Bastar has grown from a passionate idea to a thriving movement empowering local communities through sustainable tourism. Here’s a glimpse into the milestones that shaped our journey.

Our Timeline

A versatile passionate group of individuals working for a common cause

Advisors& Mentors

Behind every meaningful movement, there are quiet forces guiding it with wisdom and vision. At Unexplored Bastar, we are grateful to have a circle of advisors, mentors, and well-wishers from diverse backgrounds — including tourism, development, conservation, culture, and public policy — who have supported us at every step. Their insights and encouragement help us dream big, stay grounded, and think long-term.

Anand Trivedi

Harvard, NITI Aayog, Nirma

Rahul Bhusari

Founder Infinite Journeys

Vishal Nigam

Ex-Airforce, IIFT

Rahul Sanghvi

IIM-A, NITI Aayog, Entrepreneur

Styajit Mazumdar

Director of TISS Incube Foundation

Core Team

Our core team is made up of passionate professionals, cultural connectors, and local champions — many of whom come from the very villages we work in. From handling tour logistics and managing community relations to designing experiences and creating digital content, this young and dynamic team runs the show with purpose and heart.
We don’t just work in Bastar. We belong here.

Jeet Singh Arya

Founder

Manish Panigrahi

Business Head

Sunanda Thakur

Finance Manager

Prabodh Kumar Balyan

Manager – Consulting & Business Development

Priyanka Nag

Sr. Sales Executive

Yashika Burka

Senior Research & BD Associate

Aryan Soni

Software Developer

Interns

Unexplored Bastar is proud to be a learning ground for students, researchers, creators, and changemakers who believe in the power of people-led tourism. From remote internships to on-ground fieldwork, our interns and volunteers bring fresh ideas, energy, and outside perspectives while learning deeply from the field. They play a crucial role in documentation, outreach, and event support — and leave as lifelong ambassadors of Positive Bastar.