Learn About The Goddesses Of Himachal, Its Sages & Shrooms From This Tour Guide With A PhD!

His passion for being a full-time tour guide began when he opened his bookstore and started having conversations with foreigners over a cup of chai.

If you’ve ever availed the services of a tour guide, have you ever wondered how or why they ended up pursuing this profession? Was it their love for travel or meeting new people or both? Well, regardless of their inspiration, being a tour guide is no easy feat as it requires a plethora of skills, including humility, hard work, and of course, comprehensive knowledge about the destination.

Learn About The Goddesses Of Himachal, Its Sages & Shrooms From This Tour Guide With A PhD!
Pic Credits: Google Images

Recently, we came across the story of a tour guide from the beautiful hills of Himachal Pradesh! His name is Prem Sagar and he is basically your official guide to any destination in Himachal. He’s also highly educated, more than most folks reading this (or even me, the writer!) as he’s completed his Master’s in English Literature and is even pursuing his PhD. Like, WOAH!


Learn About The Goddesses Of Himachal, Its Sages & Shrooms From This Tour Guide With A PhD!

Pic Credits: iStock


Prem was always fond of reading books and flipping through pages of travel magazines in his idle time, which also inspired him to open his own bookstore in McLeodganj, Dharamshala. 

While he was manning his bookstore, many foreigners would visit his shop and talk to him over a cup of chai. He told Conde Nast Traveller, “That’s when I started exploring the possibilities of travelling with them and learning from them.”

Learn About The Goddesses Of Himachal, Its Sages & Shrooms From This Tour Guide With A PhD!

Pic Credits: iStock


Unlike other tour guides, however, Sagar wasn’t content with just taking tourists around to popular hotspots. He actually gave them in-depth information about the history and culture of each place they’d visit. That’s also when he started his heritage and historical tour walks in Himachal Pradesh, where he re-explored the history of various places with the people who signed up for his tours! 

Learn About The Goddesses Of Himachal, Its Sages & Shrooms From This Tour Guide With A PhD!

Pic Credits: Google Images


“We all read about Mughal history in India,” he says over a phone interview. “But no one talks about what happened before that. History needs to be re-explored,” Sagar told Conde Nast Traveller.

When we think of Himachal we think about its gorgeous mountains and the stunning panoramic views it offers, but Sagar thinks a bit differently. He believes there’s much more to explore here, including its religious and mythological history. After all, Himachal is known as being the centre of Buddhism and home to goddess Parvati.

Learn About The Goddesses Of Himachal, Its Sages & Shrooms From This Tour Guide With A PhD!
Pic Credits: iStock

Besides that, Sagar also talks about the importance of mushrooms in Himachal’s history. Talking about mushroom agriculture, he says, “Most are edible and the locals have learned the art of drying and preservation which allows them to be stored for years.” 

Unfortunately, ever since the pandemic took over our lives, Sagar’s work has come to a halt, and he’s only seen tourists from places like Delhi and Punjab. Nevertheless, he hopes for things to get back to normal so that he can continue inspiring people with his story, while also enlightening them about his state’s rich history. 

With inputs from Conde Nast Traveller


Pic Credits for OG/ Horizontal/ Vertical: iStock, Google Images

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