BANARAS THROUGH A LENS

BETWEEN FIRE AND WATER

Explore Banaras beyond the postcard through its ghats, old galis, markets, food, weaving neighbourhoods, rituals, and everyday life.

Learn phone photography and videography through simple visual prompts, observation, framing, sound, and storytelling. No prior experience needed.

See the city through its contrasts, where faith and routine, life and death, chaos and stillness, the sacred and the everyday often exist side by side.

Spend time with local communities, artisans, weavers, vendors, and others who shape the city, learning through their work, routines, traditions, and lived knowledge.

Come together through daily visual reflections to discuss, observe, edit, and gradually shape your own interpretation of the Banaras you experienced.

Day 1

DAY 1

- Arrival in Banaras

- Opening circle

- Old city walk

- Galis & markets

- Street food

- Evening Ganga Aarti

- Visual Reflection - 1

DAY 2

- Sunrise boat ride

- Walk along the ghats

- River life & rituals

- Phone photography & videography session

- Small-group city exploration

- Visual Reflection - 2

Day 2
Day 3

DAY 3

- Weaving neighbourhoods

- Artisans & craft

- Local food

- Old neighbourhoods

- Local stories

- Faith & traditions that continue to shape the city

- Visual Reflection - 3

DAY 4

- Engage with local communities

- Participate in everyday activities

- Learn through their work, routines & practices

- Experience Banaras through the people who live it

- Visual storytelling in small groups

- Visual Reflection - 4

Day 4
Day 5

DAY 5

- Final exploration

- Visual storytelling - 5

- Closing circle

- Farewell

Ajay Sood
MENTOR

AJAY SOOD

  • He is a Canon Photo Mentor, a Getty Photographer and runs 'Travelure'. He is a journalist member of the Press Club of India.
  • He has captured 47 countries and 102 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
  • Taken over 100 workshops for Canon, National Geographic, Nikon, Adobe, and more.
  • Has won numerous awards like OSM (Outlook Social Media) Photographer of the Year, Grand winner of National Geographic Traveller's #GetOutThere, Best PhotoBlog Award by Gujarat Tourism and Innovative Council of India Tourism.

why join us?

See Banaras Differently Icon

See Banaras Differently

Explore beyond the familiar ghats through old neighbourhoods, food, rituals, craft, and everyday life.

Phone Photography & Videography Icon

Phone Photography & Videography

Learn to tell stronger visual stories using only your phone, with simple, practical guidance.

Guided Visual Prompts Icon

Guided Visual Prompts

Explore the city through daily prompts that help you notice stories, contrasts, people, and moments.

Small Group Exploration Icon

Small Group Exploration

Explore in intimate groups, follow different perspectives, and come back together to reflect and share.

People & Living Traditions Icon

People & Living Traditions

Spend time with local communities and experience weaving, food, rituals, craft, and everyday practices.

Create a Visual Story Icon

Create a Visual Story

Bring together what you capture across the journey into your own visual interpretation of Banaras.

What's
Included?

1 / Accommodation

Accommodation during the expedition.

2 / Meals

Daily breakfast and selected meals.

3 / Local Transport

Local transport within Banaras for scheduled experiences.

4 / Sunrise Boat Ride

Sunrise boat ride on the Ganga.

5 / Guided Explorations

Guided explorations across ghats, galis, neighbourhoods and markets.

6 / Photography & Videography

Phone photography & videography sessions.

7 / Prompts & Reflection

Daily visual prompts and reflection sessions.

8 / Storytelling Activities

Small-group storytelling activities.

9 / Community Interactions

Curated interactions with local communities, artisans and practitioners.

10 / Scheduled Experiences

All scheduled workshops and experiences.

11 / TEC Facilitation

TEC facilitation throughout the expedition.

What's not
Included?

1 / Travel to Banaras

Travel to and from Banaras.

2 / Transfers

Airport / railway station transfers, unless specifically mentioned.

3 / Meals Outside Itinerary

Meals outside those included in the itinerary.

4 / Personal Expenses

Personal expenses, shopping and additional activities.

5 / Equipment

Camera or photography equipment.

6 / Travel Insurance

Travel insurance.

7 / Medical Expenses

Medical expenses.

8 / Unspecified Items

Anything not specifically mentioned under What’s Included.

Join us