Prof. Chander Mohan Persheera
Prof., Author & Expeditions Consultant, Adventure India
Prof. (Dr.) Chander Mohan Parsheera, belongs to the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, India. After completing his post-graduation in Tourism in 1994, he began his professional career with the adventure wing of SITA World Travels and later joined Adventure India, the pioneering Manali-based travel company founded by his father.
In 1999, he joined Himachal Pradesh University, where he presently serves as Professor of Tourism and additionally holds the charge of Director, Institute of Tribal Studies (formerly Tribal Research Institute). His core academic and professional interests include destination planning, adventure and mountain tourism, indigenous knowledge systems, cultural landscapes, experiential travel, and regenerative tourism practices.
An explorer at heart, Prof. Parsheera has cycled more than 1,100 kilometres along the Ganges trail and motorcycled the entire Indian coastline four times. He also climbed White Sail Peak in year 2017, with the globally renowned Korean mountaineer Kim Chang-ho, creating a symbolic connection with Korea. Kim earned worldwide recognition for climbing all fourteen above 8,000-metre peaks without supplementary oxygen. Another significant Indo-Korean cultural linkage he is presently exploring is the rediscovery of the trail of Princess Suriratna, revered in Korea as Queen Heo Hwang-ok, who traveled to Korea from India 2000 years ago. This research initiative follows a methodology similar to his acclaimed “John Muir Trail India” project.
Prof. Parsheera has remained associated with Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) through Adventure India, as expedition consultant, since 2008. In September 2011, he addressed the PATA Global Chapter Meeting on the topic “Fund Raising for Chapters,” a session recorded by Mr. Reid Ridgway, then Regional Director Asia of PATA. He also served as a member of the Industrial Council during 2010–2012. His family proudly represents a three-generation association with PATA, including his daughter’s internship at the PATA Headquarters in Bangkok in 2024.
His academic journey has been equally distinguished. Inspired by the annual journal tradition of the Royal Geographical Society, London, he initiated the “International Journal of Tourism” at Himachal Pradesh University. Over the years, he has authored books on tourism, tribal history, tribal music, ancient rivers, and Buddhist masters, besides preparing the first-ever glossary of tribes of Himachal Pradesh. He has successfully supervised sixteen Ph.D. scholars on diverse tourism research themes, including homestay tourism, backpacker tourism in India, and the socio-economic impact of the Rohtang Tunnel, all of which received considerable academic appreciation. He is currently guiding eight additional doctoral scholars and serves on several important committees, including the National Education Policy Task Force, CAMPA of the Forest Department, and the UNDP tourism project in Himachal Pradesh.
Deeply committed to linking tourism with community heritage, Prof. Parsheera revived the nearly forgotten 90-year-old Buddhist tradition of Tsa-Tsa in the Lahaul-Spiti region through a cultural fair dedicated to the ancient river Chandrabhaga. His work consistently reflects a meaningful integration of tourism, ecology, indigenous identity, and living traditions.
His latest and most ambitious project, John Muir Trail India, published by Penguin Random House, India is the outcome of several years of immersive field research and exploration across the Himalayas. The book is being officially launched during the PATA Summit in Korea.
