Meet our expert, resident Trip Leaders
Jairaj KR
"Jairaj is a true gem. His knowledge of India is outstanding—you can ask him anything, and he’ll know the answer. He’s also incredibly organized; our group moved effortlessly from place to place and activity to activity. He was also excellent at spontaneous discoveries, stopping the coach to show us interesting places and offer new experiences."
–Juliet & Leonard Rothman, 5-time travelers, San Francisco, California
100% of OAT travelers rate their experience with Jairaj on this adventure as "excellent"
Born in: Kerala, India
Currently resides in: Kerala, India
With OAT since: 2005
Languages: English, Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology and Master’s Degree in Sociology, both from Calicut University in Kerala; Diploma in Tourism Management from Annamalai University in Chidambaram
Hobbies/Special interests: Playing cricket, gardening, photography
Interesting Fact about Jairaj: Having been raised in Kerala—a city known for its festivals—he is always on the lookout for ceremonies and celebrations for his travelers to experience. “Kerala has many colorful festivals year-round,” Jairaj explains, “and growing up, I was fortunate to attend many of these. The history and traditions of these events—not to mention the celebratory atmosphere of the gathered people—make it a truly exciting and spiritual experience for all who attend. It’s not uncommon to come across different types of festivals during our travels throughout South India. And when we do, I make it a point to stop so my travelers can witness the excitement, and, maybe a little selfishly, so that I can relive memories from my youth.”
Memorable Small Group Experience: “During a visit to a small factory, one of my travelers—who thought she was pressing the button for the elevator—accidentally sounded the day’s end alarm instead. Like a steam whistle signaling the end of the day, the alarm reverberated throughout the building, and all of the factory workers looked up in confusion, because it was only about ten o’clock in the morning! My traveler was so embarrassed, but I told her not to be: ‘You’re the workers’ favorite,’ I told her.”
Jairaj’s Insider Tips:
Food & Dining: “There are many misconceptions about Indian food. I’ve heard plenty of travelers say, ‘All Indian food is spicy,’ but that’s just not true. Certainly, there are some spectacularly spicy dishes, but you’ll find just as many that are milder in flavor—yet still delicious. One of these is palak paneer, a vegetarian dish composed of spinach, paneer (cheese), bay leaves, onions, and a curry sauce. And even though you might not normally enjoy spicy food, I would encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and try something that really showcases the brilliant spices found in Indian cuisine—such as onion oothappam. One of my favorite dishes, onion oothappam is a type of onion, chutney, and vegetable curry wrapped in a rice and black gram pancake.”
Hidden Gems: “Located just ten minutes outside of Mysore, Srirangapattana is an ancient city and pilgrimage site for Hindus that I enjoy visiting. The entire town is an island encircled by the Kaveri River, but is easily accessed by train. The city’s main attraction is the Ranganathaswamy Temple, a tiered temple erected in the ninth century, that’s the site of some interesting rituals. I love the architecture of the temple and the quiet reverie of the city.”