Age as we always say is just a number. It needs just a dream, a vision and will power to win. Meet our Entrepreneur for the month of January, 2025. Mrs.Vandana Bhalekar from Mumbai.

As she recollects her journey, Mrs. Bhalekar says that it all started with an idea -to bring joy and experiences to the women in her family. For the first time, she gathered her senior family members, including Kaki and Mami, and planned a small trip to Nagpur. With a tight budget, they booked a three-day journey by plane. The joy and appreciation they expressed during that trip filled her with overwhelming happiness and motivated me to dream bigger.

Building a Vision
Seeing the energy and enthusiasm travel brought to her family, Mrs.Bhalekar decided to turn this passion into a business. That’s how Bhalekar Tours was born. In the beginning, Mrs.Bhalekar organized trips for a group of twenty people. Over the years, this initiative grew, and since 2016, they’ve been traveling to new destinations, from Haridwar and Nainital to Kashmir and beyond.

Each journey brought new experiences and memories. Organizing these trips became more than just a business – a source of immense mental satisfaction and joy for her, knowing that she is creating lasting moments for others.

Facing Challenges with Resilience
Of course, no journey is without its challenges. The pandemic in 2020 brought unexpected hardships. Trips had to be canceled, dreams were put on hold, and Mrs.Bhalekar suffered significant losses. One of the most heartbreaking moments was canceling a trip to Goa, a dream destination for many of their members.

However, this phase taught her resilience. Despite the setbacks, Mrs.Bhalekar stayed committed to rebuilding and moving forward.

Empowering Women Through Travel
One of the greatest joys of this travel business has been seeing the transformation in the women who join these trips. Travel ignites a spark of curiosity, confidence, and joy. Mrs. Bhalekar hopes that more women embrace opportunities like this, stepping out of their comfort zones to explore the world and discover their potential.

A Heartfelt Dedication
Mrs. Bhalekar feels that her success is just a reflection of the hard work, trust, and support of her team and all the members who have been part of the journey. Together, she feels they’ve created something truly special – a community fueled by self-esteem, learning, and exploration.

Thanking Swayamsiddha Foundation for the motivation, training and guidance Mrs. Bhalekar calls it her own organization and thanks everyone in the organization.