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The Tapas Banerjee Brand Of Tours

The travel business is a great personal 'need'. I will seek half a minute of your time to tell you briefly about myself. There is perhaps no reason for this, except to give you a bit of an insight into the background of the person who is seeking to handle your travel arrangements. I am from a Bengalee (Calcutta - Mother Teresa) middle class well educated background who grew up without parents and all the negative complexes that come with it. I have no formal training in the travel business. I started the business 14 years back with USD 8 (Rs. 335) from a shed primarily to make friends and 'get back to the world' - so to say. I have ever since tried all possible to ensure that I do not fall in the eyes of the people who have trusted me with their trip. We have had tremendous success with the business. Today we have our own office building well-trained staff and our deluxe transport. However, I did not notice these things happen. I just kept enjoying my work and the relationships I built. The manifestations of success listed above just kept happening on the side. I feel the business has given me back my self respect, status and above all friendship and trust of so many people. Hence, life has been a bit of a roller coaster ride for us and today I can sense a definite shift in priorities. As life is moving on, my need for money and wealth for myself is diminishing. Things that I never had - friendship, trust, relationships etc. - are assuming greater significance. This is what the travel business is bringing to me.

It is the above shaping of Tapas Banerjee, that has led to the shaping of the Tapas Banerjee brand of tours.

With all that has been said above, it does not require a wizard to figure out that people are the center of our focus whether it be our people client or people in the destination. We want our clients to have a greater 'feel' of the destination, and not just a 'cold' superficial touristy overview.

Me and my wife, Krishna invite home for dinner each guest passing through Delhi. This would give our guests an opportunity to experience a typical Indian home, how they live, their attitude to things etc. This would be an opportunity to experience typical Indian home food as well as typical Indian hospitality. The idea is to give you an insight into not only the country, but, also the people who actually make up the country. But this is a two way street, and, I must let out a secret. The home dinners appear on the surface as a value addition to the tour, but, the secret is that this gives me a great satisfaction - I want to see and interact with the people who have trusted me. This reminds me at all times the reasons for gaining initiation to the travel business.

We not only bring to you the tourist sites, but, the highlight would be when we shift our focus exclusively from monuments. We accept that cities in Rajasthan have great monuments which speak of the creative heights achieved historically by the artists and craftsmen of the land. However, besides touring these monuments in these cities, we would also have opportunities to walk through typical bazaars and shop for traditional specialties of each destination. We would ride 3 wheel cycle rickshaws (accompanied by peals of laughter from the onlookers as well as the passengers), ride elephants, witness traditional occupations such pottery, agriculture, brickmaking, cotton fabrics etc all being made by hand using traditional tools and implements. We would also stop during our journeys to visit typical traditional homes that are still mud plastered with a coat of cowdung paste (Even bullshitting is for a reason !!); markets that are all on the pavements, roads (sorry trails !) are broad enough to permit only a one way traffic of donkey carts !!

These are 'not just' guides. These are people from well educated cultured middle class families who can discuss with you on a diverse range of topics within a friendly and family atmosphere. The idea is we want you to relax, trust us, and, hence see 'better'

Our Hotels :

We suggest handpicked hotels where we not only have value for money rates, but, these should be places that have atmosphere and charm without compromising on the amenities that discerning tourists would seek. Of course the personalisation of service, which is the cornerstone of our endeavour is an implicit requirement.

We are delighted to receive your trust. I must however tell you that I am fully alive to the responsibility that comes with this entrustment, and, will do all possible not to fall in your eyes. We are looking forward to a long term relationship with our clients based on mutual trust and honesty. We want to benefit from your good will and will do all possible to ensure that we generate enough of it. The other problem is that in the travel business it is very difficult to communicate to people the quality of services we provide as well as our attitude to the business. Hence, it is for this reason that we maintain an exhaustive reference list of clients who could speak for us. That is something that we offer to all our clients (if requested). In fact, we need to constantly update this list and each booking that we generate is expected to be added to this list(Only name and e-mail, with consent). We will of course bend backwards to ensure that guests do not deny us this opportunity.

Finally, the attitude is that of making a friend. I feel fortunate and humbled to be in a business that gives me the opportunity to both make money as well as friends out of complete strangers - can I ask for more ? I am extending a hand of friendship and an opportunity to experience our brand of India travel.

Clients identity have been protected, but full names and e-mail details would be made available upon request

I am only too pleased to give a reference for Tapas and his company, Trinetra .

A colleague and I have been using Tapas to arrange our group visits to India every year since 1990. Indeed my first group was his first group when he opened up in business for himself.
He decided to open his own business because he felt the companies he had worked for in the tourist industry in India were not giving the kind of service he believed tourists wanted and deserved. He is a man of great honour, is trustworthy and reliable. He will arrange the best deal he can for you, and will always be concerned for your welfare.

In fact he will do his utmost to arrange for you whatever you want. One year I had asked for (what I later realised was) a very punishing schedule, encompassing huge distances. Tapas delivered, and I got the schedule I wanted, but after that year I always put a rider on my requests-- is this do able and is it sensible! India is so huge, it is easy to look at it and think of covering distances as we do in the West-- this is not the same experience in the East!

I have no hesitation in recommending Tapas to you. As I say, he has consistently given us excellent service and value for money over the last 14 years. many of the people who came with me in the first 2 years, have returned with me on numerous occasions. They know the visit will be a good one, well organised and structured through Trinetra Tours.

I hope you enjoy India, it is a stunning wonderful country.

Best wishes
Julie W. U.K.

Tapas Banerjee at Trinetra Tours has arranged several group tours for me, and his organisation has always been excellent. Hotels have been of a high standard, and guides and drivers have been friendly and helpful. I have no hesitation in recommending him to you.
Best wishes,
Sue B. UK

I am always pleased to offer a reference for Trinetra. There are not enough superlatives in the English language to describe the level of service they provided during our tour of Rajistan.

If you meet Tapas, you will certainly be impressed with his warmth and friendship.

One memorable example of excellent service: We took a side trip to Nepal, and the return flight was unexpectedly canceled. The next flight left barely enough time for our connection from New Delhi to the United States. Tapas' people met us at the airport, and hand-guided us through the maze of pre-check-in inspections. We literally ran with them to baggage check-in, managed to get our boarding passes, and boarded the plane. Phew! Two lessons: Avoid the Nepalese airline (Singapore Airlines flew the same route), and make sure you've got a friend in New Delhi!

I wish you well, and a safe journey. Do not hesitate to write if you have any other questions.
George H. USA

Dear Tapas,
We are now home and gradually getting back to normal, but the beauty of our India trip remains foremost in the minds and hearts of each of us.

The trip was very special in so many ways. Your organization was excellent. At every city we were met by one of your representatives and taken to our hotel. The guides were specialists who provided extensive background history of the various sites, and the drivers were skilled in maneuvering the sometimes treacherous traffic both in and out of the cities. We could not have asked for more in terms of organization. Trinetra was there for us at all times. Certainly, I will recommend your organization. Please feel free to use our names as references.

And finally, thank you for the wonderful dinner in your home. It was thoughtful and generous of you and Krishna to provide such a warm introduction to our tour of India. I hope that when you visit us in the USA so that we can extend our hospitality to you.

Wishing you the very best.
Phyllis S. USA

Hi Tapas,
Namaste
It was wonderful to meet you, and your lovely wife and family, after the lengthy correspondence we have all had by e-mail - thank you so much for the friendly dinner, and indeed for everything associated with the tour.

You will know by now that the Tour was a stunning success, and all credit to you and your staff for making it so! I will certainly contact you when we start planning our next trip to India.

Best regards - Pat, U.K

Hi Tapas,
We are now back home to some wonderful soaking rain. The animals were all thrilled to see us - so it was good to get back.

What a wonderful trip we had ! I have just been looking at some of the pictures and noticed that in every picture of people - we are either smiling or laughing - that is how it went the whole way.It was a really awesome experience visiting your country and meeting so many wonderful people - not to mention all the magnificent buildings and animals. Thank you for the great organisation and having people to help us all along the way. We were very grateful even to the last - that there was an agent who met us in Mumbai and helped us get to the international terminal and check in.

Thank you once again - we will certainly be back in India as soon as we get the time and money together ! Please give our love to all we met at Trinetra (and of course your beautiful wife)
love
Linda D, South Africa

Dear Tapas,
I enjoyed my trip to India. Your guide & driver took away all the stress of travelling & allowed me to focus on experiencing this great country.

Thanks for all your arrangements - Michael. W. (USA)

Happy New Year Tapas

I apologize for the delay in responding to your 12/14 note but we are just now returning to normal after 2 months of traveling and then Christmas celebrations with our family.

We could not have been more pleased or satisfied with every aspect of the arrangements you and your staff put together for our recent trip through India. In this day and age it's unusual to receive all that's promised and a pleasant surprise to get more than expected.

We had not ONE single moment of apprehension. We were met on time at every destination by your staff or representatives. It was only after we were well into our journey that we began to realize and appreciate what an excellent job you had done. Your anticipation of and pre-solved solutions to situations we had not thought of was a mark of high professionalism!

We took great comfort in the excellent job done by our driver, Mohan Singh. He watched over us like a mother hen protecting her brood of chicks... please thank him again for us. Garima is a real public relations asset to your orgnization and we really enjoyed her company. Tell her hello and how much we enjoyed her company.

Please add us to your listing of satisfied friends when sending out your referal list to prospective customers or foreward this note to anyone inquiring of your services.

Regarding the issue of trust: Of course its difficult to send large sums of money to someone who could be a smooth internet scam artist. I suppose its done many times each day. Our frequent e-mails established a feeling of mutual trust but the clincher for me (after I had already bankwired you the money) was receipt of the unsolisited e-mail from Garima announcing how, when and where she would meet us on our arrival.

We enjoyed dinner at your home . It's a very nice personal thing for you to do, and, establishes a friendship v/s a business relationship. If you get to the USA we hope to reciprocate. We look forward to seeing both of you again!!

Your friend
Jerry E. USA

Hi Tapas,

Sorry that it took so long before you heard something from me. We wish you and your family a Happy New Year. Also for all your staff the best for the New Year !!!!!

We have been very busy from the beginning and things were quiet more busy than last year. First of all we enjoyed our trip very much. Once again I wish to thank you for the good organisation of the trip. Of course we don't forget our friend Prakash; tell him his pictures will come one of these days. Yours also of course, but by mail. Don't forget to put us on your reference list. Normally we'll come back next year.

Big hugs,
Mr. Jan., Belgium

Dear Tapas,

you made it again! You have arranged a very, very successful trip for us all. I will write you some comments as soon as I have time. A great thanks to you. And what a very big surprise that we didn't have to pay the extras for the air flight. Are you sure about that?

Lots of love- I'll get back to you. Louise, Sweden

We realise that it would be difficult for you to evaluate the quality of services we promise. However, there is a way out. Try talking to us; try corresponding with us. You would soon realise that you are dealing with a "different" kind of people who hold a very distinct and refreshing attitude towards not only the travel trade, but, also in the manner they deal with you. There is also another way out; upon your request, we can mail to you a sample Reference list of customers who have been on our various visit in the last few years. We suggest you get in touch with them for a first hand account of the customer's side of the story. Somebody said, and, we agreed that the proof of the pudding is in eating it !! So, why not take opinions and impressions of the people who have "Tasted" the pudding.?

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