I, receiving the certificate
I finally got my tour guide license on the 30th after three years of wait because I had applied for it in the year 2006. I started preparing for the entrance exam after applying for the license in 2006 and continued it for a few months but finally I stopped because the tour guide association of India sued the Indian government for issuing the license. They never want new people to come in the industry as they are afraid of loosing their bread and butter because most the old guides are not good. They got their license when it was so easy to get it. Now the process is tough but it will definitely produce better tour guides who are at least trained to not chew betel while talking with their clients:)
The certificate
My brother Chandan, who is an escort, told me something really funny. He said that when he was in Benares last time with his group, he had hired a government approved tour guide who went with them for morning time boat ride. This tour guide started talking about Benares, Hindu religion, Benares culture and Ganga. He said several times that Ganga is not only a river for Hindus, she is considered as mother. After a few minutes when his speech ended, he started chewing betel and later spited it out in the river Ganga in front of his clients. The clients got really upset and they asked him if Hindus spit on their mother and he just did not have any answer. I hope the people who have attended this training program will not do such thing.
Sana and I at convocation hall
The tour guide training program was stopped several times because the tour guide association of India was always suing the government. They sued the government first time right after the application forms were open and then it took few months to settle things, and then government organized entrance exam and then again tour guide association sued the government and the program was stopped again for a few months as the case was going on in Delhi High Court. Finally the government won the case and High Court of Delhi ordered the government to start the training as soon as possible so finally training was started after 3 years in August 2009.
Happy moments
The training was held at IITTM in Gwalior where I got to learn a lot. The total duration of training was 16 weeks- 6 weeks of classroom teaching and 10 weeks for field work. There were over 75 lectures in 6 weeks and I did wrote my research paper on Benares. I focused on cultural diversity of Benares. There was a written exam and an interview at the end of the program and I passed both and finally got the certificate. Now I have to go to Delhi to India tourism office with a police verification certificate and then they will issue me a provisional license which will be valid only for two months. And after two months my red card (the permanent license) will be issued. I hope they will not create any problem in Delhi.
Dilip Ji,
Its very sad that people like you have to suffer for license. I also agree with you that escorts can also work as good as any other LICENSED tour guide. In fact, I think that escorts are much better than tour guides because they have a lot of experience. Keep trying and best of luck!
Rohit,
The process is same for everyone. Please read the whole post and go through all the comments.
Chandan Ji,
I don’t know where you are based so cant really suggest you anything but I have heard that embassy’s cultural centers are the best places to learn any foreign language. Why don’t you try Russian Embassy’s cultural center in New Delhi?
Sanjay Ji,
Please say PLEASE one more time and maybe I will be able to help you getting the license:)
dear,
how i can apply to northen india licence
Dear Lalit Ji,
Just read this whole post and go through other comments and you will get answer of all of your questions as procedure is same for everyone.
Thanks,
I’m working as a french translator in Pondicherry. Can i get guide license.?
Mr. Martin,
Process is same for everyone. Do you have Indian citizenship? If not, then you can’t get the license.
When tour guide licence form are coming? is there any chance in 2011?. When did they last came? reply me soon.
my name is manish modaliyar i live varanasi in india near bank of the river i would like to talk western people and try to ex plane about my city but i have always problem with police i want something that they will not give problem to me because i always meet western and i have to many friends in Europe i want some advice about that please help me………………..
Manish,
I don’t really think that the Police can stop you by talking with foreigners. There are restrictions at ASI monuments but if you are somewhere else then there should not be any problem. Anyways, I also remember when I did not have the license and how I was worried about the Police all the time. Try to get tourist guide license and all of your problems will be solved.
Dear Sir,
Please advice me how can i become a tour guide ?
At present i am with a travel company in Delhi & working as an sales executive (Inbound Tours) and have little experience of escorting..
Age:: 23
Qualification:: BTM
Mohit,
There is only one way to get the license- attend the training program. Just wait for the training program to start again next time.
please tell me about how we know when the forms for guide licence will open?
Karan,
Procedure is same for everyone so please just read the whole post and I don’t have any idea about when the license will be issued next time.
Thanks,
Good experience , i am also waiting for spanish guide licence but still working last 11 years . now i think i need licence because situation are changed in last 3 & 4 years . good luck to you .
Thanks!