Phalgun was born and raised in Bangalore, India, and earned his master’s degree in film and photography from Light & Life Academy near Ooty, Tamil Nadu. He spent six years in commercial photography before shifting focus to wildlife and conservation. His guiding career began in the Sal forests of Kanha Tiger Reserve, where he trained as a naturalist.

Now based in Central India, Phalgun has guided across a range of ecosystems—from the golden grasslands of Panna to the rainforest canopies of the Western Ghats. He also leads high-altitude expeditions in Ladakh in search of snow leopards, wolves and other rare Himalayan wildlife. In 2023, he joined Natural Habitat Adventures as an Expedition Leader, where his dual expertise in animal behavior and photography enhances every guest experience.

A seasoned photographer, Phalgun is committed to helping travelers capture compelling, high-impact images that reflect the wonder of the natural world. His background in film gives him a distinct visual sensibility and an eye for narrative in the field.

In his free time, Phalgun explores coral reefs around the world as an avid diver and spends time in the hills of Chikmagalur, Karnataka. There, he is rewilding a portion of a coffee estate into montane forest and developing a boutique wilderness lodge at 6,300 feet in the Western Ghats—one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. The region is home to endemic birds, reptiles, and insects, as well as elephants, leopards, lesser cats, and a rich variety of ungulates.