A true perfectionist, Lia is fully committed to creating the best spa and culinary experiences for our guests, and brings to Bagh Villas years of training, experience and a passion for perfection and excellence. Apart from being an internationally certified health and nutrition expert, Lia has worked with some of the best spa and wellness chains around the world, notably, Apsara Spa at Tugu Malang in Indonesia, the Mandara Spa in Bali and at various other spas both across Indonesia as well as in Singapore. Lia’s expertise extends into the culinary world too, and her focus on the nutritional value of food as well as her intricate attention to detail when it comes to flavors make the Bagh Villas kitchen a haven for various cuisines from all over the world.
Lia Nair
Camp Hostess
Shrikanth’s boundless passion for the natural world and his exceptional depth of knowledge have made him an integral part of the Bagh Villas team since our inception. Inseparable from the outdoors from a young age, Shrikanth spent many years observing various facets of nature, eventually leading a number of wildlife photography tours across forests in the Western Ghats as well as volunteering with the Karnataka Forest Department and conducting nature education programmes for children.
Shrikanth has also contributed to wildlife documentaries such as Little Planet – A Tale of Frogs and Kappe Raaga – The Song of the Kumbara Night Frog as a naturalist, helping bring attention to some of India’s lesser-known and often overlooked species. His role involved closely observing amphibian behaviour; guiding film crews on what behaviour to document, while also advising them on how to approach and film sensitive species with minimal disturbance to their natural habitat.
Shrikanth Nayak
Naturalist
Mohan has been working as a naturalist in the jungles of Kanha since 2011, but has been at the forefront of wildlife conservation in India for decades. Passionate about arousing interest and educating the next generation about the necessity of conserving precious flora and fauna, Mohan’s core ideology can be summarized through Baba Dioum’s much anthologized statement: “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are taught.”
Mohan has worked with various national and international filming crews, most notably Netflix, on a series called Our Planet (narrated by Sir David Attenborough), documentaries on the Slender Loris, Operation Elephant, and a detailed estimation and survey on the Indian spotted eagle, with the active support of The Oriental Bird Club, U.K. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology, Psychology & Education, Mohan is a treasure trove of stories and a wealth of information.
Mohan Kumar
Naturalist
Born and raised in the town of Malanjkhand, only about 15 kilometers from the jungles of Kanha, Prahlad was exposed to biodiversity and natural beauty from a young age, and developed a deep appreciation for the abundant flora and fauna in the area. Armed with a degree in Botany and Biology, he has been working as a naturalist in the Kanha National Park for the past several years. His composed demeanor is complemented by his passion for birding and the art of his camera trapping, which requires a keen eye to spot pugmarks, tracks and claw markings. With an innate love for the outdoors, Prahlad adds a unique hands-on energy to our repertoire of wildlife activities.
Prahlad Bisen
Naturalist
Born and raised in Bengaluru, Aneesh is a passionate naturalist driven by a deep love for elephants and big cats. He specialises in wildlife interpretation, and spent his childhood exploring the rich ecosystems of the Nilgiri Biosphere. His wildlife journey has led him across Indian landscapes, including Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Kanha National Park, Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Western Ghats’ Bandipur and Nagarhole National Park. At Bagh Villas, he focuses on mapping tiger behaviour in one of India’s oldest reserves.
Aneesh Singh
Naturalist