TravTalk India Online Magazine
No Footprints reimagines travel through hyper-local storytelling, bringing community-based stories to life which are as appealing to inbound tourists as they are to Indians. Harshvardhan Tanwar, Co-Founder, No Footprints, shares how travel is not about places anymore—it’s about perspectives, and they are here to change how travellers see India.
Hazel Jain
In an era where urban life often distances people from the communities around them, Harshvardhan Tanwar, along with Eesha Singh, launched No Footprints in 2014—a boutique travel experience company designed to reignite that fading connection.
Operating across Mumbai, Delhi and Jaipur, they curate 45 hyper-local tours and experiences that transcend conventional sightseeing. Their mission? To weave heritage, community and storytelling into journeys that leave lasting impressions. No Footprints offers 45 signature experiences, including flagship tours like ‘Mumbai by Dawn’, which captures the city’s quiet magic at sunrise, and the ‘Refugee Food Tour’, spotlighting displaced communities through their cuisine.
“But our vision goes deeper. For instance, ‘Five Senses’ is not just about ticking off landmarks. We blend cultural, historical and community narratives to create a well-rounded perspective of a city,” says Harshvardhan Tanwar, Co-Founder, No Footprints.
Similarly, the ‘Queer Day Out’ tour explores India’s LGBTQIA+ history and its modern pop culture evolution, while Delhi’s ‘Basti Sisterhood’ amplifies the voices of women in Basti Nizamuddin. In Jaipur, ‘Starlet Spirits’ pairs heritage liquor tastings with tales of Rajasthan’s royal legacy, he adds.
Blurring lines between travellers and locals
No Footprints’ tours cater to everyone—from first-time visitors to seasoned explorers and even locals. Tanwar adds, “The idea of ‘backyard tourism’ is booming. People crave intimacy with their own cities now. Whether it’s food tours, beverage trails, or community immersions, No Footprints prioritises storytelling to create intersections between past and present.”
Travel trends are evolving rapidly, Tanwar says. “Earlier, travellers focused on tangible luxuries—luxe hotels, gourmet meals. Today, they invest in experiences. Social media has fuelled this shift, turning cultural credibility into a currency. People want memories, not just souvenirs. They are seeking connections—to places, histories, and people,” he explains.
With 45 specialised tours already thriving, they focus on further growth. “We are ready to bring No Footprints to more cities,” he says.
