My name is Raghvendra Upadhyay, also known as Nandan. I am based in Varanasi, India : a city whose layered history and living traditions have deeply influenced my personal and professional journey.
I am an independent social researcher, translator, field facilitator and a tourist guide with over 20 years of experience working across India. I collaborate with international researchers, journalists, filmmakers, and students, providing research support, translation (Hindi–English and Bhojpuri–English), field coordination, interviews, and production assistance. My work focuses on enabling nuanced, ethical, and contextually grounded storytelling.
Over the years, I have contributed to projects with organizations such as CBC, MTV Italy, SBS Australia, VPRO Netherlands, the Financial Times, and Penguin Group. My role often involves bridging cultural, linguistic, and logistical gaps to support high-quality fieldwork and documentation.
Alongside my research work, I am a government-certified tour guide accredited by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and the Archaeological Survey of India. I specialize in immersive, knowledge-driven travel experiences that go beyond conventional tourism. My work includes guiding scholars, photographers, filmmakers, and independent travelers through historically and culturally significant regions.
A key part of my practice is my ongoing on-road explor; ation of lesser-known and remote locations across India. I regularly travel to hidden sites ancient temples, cave systems, rural landscapes, and historically significant yet undocumented places seeking to understand their cultural, archaeological, and social contexts. These journeys inform both my research work and my broader perspective on India’s layered heritage.
My areas of deep interest include iconography, ancient human settlements, cave traditions, temple architecture, and archaeology. I am particularly drawn to exploring how history, belief systems, and local narratives intersect and continue to shape present-day communities.
In addition to my professional work, I have been actively engaged in social initiatives since 2007. My work has included HIV awareness, sex education, and engagement with marginalized communities, including sex workers and LGBTQ+ groups. I co-founded the NGO Sanjeevani Booti, focused on community education and research, and later contributed to Chance India, a child sponsorship initiative supporting access to education for underprivileged children.
I have also worked closely with grassroots activists in rural areas around Varanasi, supporting community development efforts and contributing to local initiatives related to social and environmental issues.
My academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce. Although I began an MBA, I chose to pursue a more field-oriented path aligned with my international collaborations and research interests. I maintain a strong interest in interdisciplinary learning, particularly in sociology, anthropology, and environmental studies.
My areas of interest include:
- Social and cultural anthropology
- Archaeology and ancient history
- Iconography and religious studies
- Cave and temple traditions
- Human rights and gender equality
- Public health and community engagement
- Environmental and grassroots activism
- Sociology and psychology
I am committed to facilitating meaningful research, responsible travel, and cross-cultural understanding. Whether supporting academic work, media production, or exploratory journeys into lesser-known regions, I aim to bring depth, reliability, and insight to every collaboration.
If you are planning a project in India or seeking a knowledgeable guide for culturally immersive travel, I would be glad to connect.
Let’s collaborate to explore, document, and understand with depth and integrity.
Received CNN Citizen Journalist Award by Vidya Balan for my fight against corruption in tourism
This is excellent. All the best with your endeavours.
Hi, I am Anutosh Pandey ,doing my BBALLB in National Law University Orissa.I belong to Varanasi.As a part of my course I have to do internship with a NGO in the month of May and June 2010.Although i am getting internships with many NGOs across India,but I want to work in Varanasi.Can you Please provide my some information regarding NGOs in Varanasi working in the flied of Human Rights,Environment or legal awareness and who are offering internships.
Thanking You
Anutosh Pandey
National Law University Orissa
anutoshpandey@gmail.com
I am not really sure about NGOs offering internship in Varanasi but I know NGOs working on Human rights, environmental rights and a lot of other issues. I will suggest you to contact Lok Samiti in Varanasi. They are situated in a village called Mehndiganj near Rajatalab. This NGO is famous all over the world for its struggle against Coca-Cola. Have you heard of Coca-Cola polluting ground water and doing other kinds of pollution in Mehndiganj? They are doing really great work on a lot of different issues. They are working on NREGA, right to information act, they have started self help group programs in several villages, they have over 20 schools… really great NGO. Need more information about them?
Your blog is very interesting. Being belonging to same background and culture, I can really understand your drive to excel and absorb all knowledge. People like you give me hope that our community can change and become mainstream of new global world.
Best of luck
Radha
Radha,
Thanks for writing. I think if we can come out of the systems made by British, Mughals and all of those people who ruled us and if we can learn our real religion and culture, it will be enough to become mainstream of new global world.
Nandan,
Of what you replied to Radha, what do you mean by ‘real’ religion and culture…what we inculcated from mughals and britishers isn’t partly our own now? for instance, the usage of english language..or the english-medium-system of education is a lineage left by the british…mostly young educated indians like me n you ‘think’ in this language these days. what would you call it then…drifting away from our culture?!
Hey Hi There Nandan,
I read your Blog and It Quite Interested and I am very happy for it. Keep it up. Being Myself is a Gay @ Chennai proud to be liked by many people and nowadays slowly All the Ppl are coming out of the Orientation. Thats Great and You ROCK.All the Best
Karan,
Thanks for writing. I also liked Chennai pride and I am happy that your city has taken such step to educate people about this issue.
Sana,
I agree completely with you that what we inculcated from Mughals and Britishers are partly our own now but I do not think that we should just accept everything. I believe in learning and I know that British and Mughals or anyone else who ruled us, taught us many things but I do not want to carry all the problems they left after leaving. India used to be the most liberal society before British and Mughals came and now we are one of the narrowest society in existence on the planet, so many problems with women, huge issues of equal rights, gender inequality… I don’t say that all the problems we have now were given by British and Mughals only but they did some serious damage which is not easy to repair.
Why do think that educated people think in English only? I don’t agree with this at all. Many people think in English and it should not be called drifting away from our culture. It is learning and nothing else. Learning a new language is really a good thing but forgetting our mother tongue is a serious problem and if somebody does it then it could be called drifting away from the culture because language is a culture itself. And believe me it is a serious problem if we just think in English and English only. You can not learn about others until you know yourself first.
I read your Blog and It quite Interested and I am inspired form ur photoghraphy …….a true article …………….
Thanks.
Hi there! I am interested in volunteering (part time) in orphanages and lobbies that ensure that Gangaji is kept clean. (Sewage and garbage is not spewed into her mercilessly) Could you give me some leads of people doing a good job?
Hey,
Great job mate. You are doing an amazimng job. I am from a production house from mumbai we are doing a show for MTV and will be coming to Benaras on this sunday i.e 8th jan.Would like to know about your city the music culture,rasleelas and so on.it would be wonderful if you can take out sometym out of your schedule and meet……
Sneha,
Just give me a call once you are in town.
Hi Nandan, we met you in Jan this year. and just thought to look you up!! i must say, Varanasi ended up being my favourite part of our india trip, and i think that was largely due to you. you were fantastic and i just wanted to thank you for the experience. do you have a facebook page? thanks, bryony and john reardon
Namaste Bryony,
I am glad that you liked Varanasi and my tourist guide services. I will send you a friend request on facebook.
Hi Nandan, I found your blog through a rather long route, and enjoyed reading your experiences. A friend was invited to participate in a documentary in Varanasi, and Allahabad, the “Arddh Kumbha Mela”.
Since I am from India I told him I would do some investigating, unfortunately he has since declined to go because it was such short notice. Lane Raspberry (I live in Seattle as well) was mentioned as part of the group, and Arun Thakar.
I will definitely look you up and perhaps stay in your guest house, it has been many years since I was in Varanasi.
You do great work! I think you have done a lot to help foreigners understand a bit more about India, in a true and honest way.
Namaste Nina Ji,
Thanks for writing. Which documentary project are you talking about?
NEED TO COME TO VARANSIA TO SEE EXORSIM ,PLZ ADVICE.
RE
ROHAN
Namaste Rohan,
What advice do you need?
Iam also belong from jaunpur that is my native place .now i glad to your apotunity in furthure place are very best . Have you any way to make a allrounder person in tourist dept for me
Nandan, I have learnt so much from reading your blog, so I am really pleased to have found it. Thankyou for the great job you have done in sharing your thoughts and experiences with the rest of the world. You are fantastic!
I was in India (mainly Rajasthan) for three weeks recently as part of a small group tour. I have had so many questions about India after my visit, your blog has helped me find many of the answers.
Keep up the good work….you live in an amazing part of the planet.
Cheers,
Anna (New Zealand)
you are great nandan
my name is ali Iam from yemen
Iam student in bhu phd
education
I face som broblms with my study
can u help me
7379499163
Namaste Ali,
What problem are you facing and how may I help you?
Namaste Manoj,
I don’t understand what you are trying to say.
Thanks,
hi nandan,
dis is ritu, m a grl of 18… n trust me m just so baffled to choose mah career ahead, i m plannin to do MSW “Master in social works” n wen i went thru al ua blogs n ua convrsatn wid othrs… it felt good, u seem lyk bng into dis social service n al eh. 🙂 wana b lyyyyyykkkkkyyyyyaaaa…… cooolll.
Hi, Nandan. I’m from China. I’m doing a research for a filming and come across your blog. I’ve got a lot of information useful. My team is already in India for a research, and they will arrive in Varanasi in next few days. I’m wondering if you can help us with some research in some old-age homes. I look forward to your reply.
Zita