The Origin of Ekaa
“Ekam Sat, Viprah Bahudha Vadanti” – Rig Veda
“There is only one truth, only men describe it in different ways”
According to ancient Indian scriptures, all human beings are the same. Religion, colour, caste and nationalities are just identities. And that is what defines Ekaa.
Inspired by this philosophy, the name Ekaa has roots in folklore, ancient values and upnashidas, but it represents modern India. We believe that all our guests are a part of the same family.
The essence remains the same in our design and our hospitality. That’s why we ensure that everyone has a unique experience which is customized keeping their interests in mind.
Experience the warmth of traditional Indian hospitality in the familiarity of all modern comforts.
Udit
A second-generation businessman and a true people’s person at heart, everything about Ekaa’s co-founder Udit reveals his passion towards ensuring that his guests get the best that a destination can offer.
He started his career in 2001, retailing Indian handicrafts before venturing into furniture export in 2007. It was in 2010 that he made his way into the travel industry when one of his German friends decided to get married in India and all the logistics became his responsibility. Since then, Udit and his team have been curating bespoke experiences in India for travellers from all over the world through his company, Travelsense India.
While creating highly personalised tours for discerning guests from across the globe, Udit felt a critical need for a hotel that provided more than just a place to stay. He realized that no brand was truly representing modern India that was still close to its history, legend and folklore.
After much deliberation, research, planning and multiple trips across the country, Ekaa Agra was born! The only design hotel that draws its inspiration from the city of Agra, the erstwhile capital of the Mughals and home of the Taj Mahal.
But the basis of Ekaa finding its home in Agra is much beyond the Taj. It is based on 160 years of personal history that Udit’s family shares with the city. It’s the story of his roots which are grounded in the ancient wisdom of this land.
A city where his great-great-grandfather co-founded the Agra College in 1823, where his grandfather shared stories of World War II on cold winter nights, and where he grew up hearing stories of an Agra that no travel book can ever access. (We need to say more here about food, a major part of the memories is the grub)
Through Ekaa, Udit wants his guests to experience the Agra of his childhood lives in the by-lanes and old city, an Agra that celebrates the Taj Mahal but also goes much beyond it.
Abid
The odd one out, Abid was an out-and-out sales guy for his entire career. Delivering his A-game with biggies like Apple, Nokia and Microsoft, he travelled across cities for meetings. But beneath the dapper suits and PowerPoint presentation, the heart of a true traveller was always beating. He wanted to go out of the box, restless to see and feel more.
An avid biker, Abid would often take off for lesser-known destinations to explore parts of India that no travel guide would write about. Interacting with the locals, trying out their cuisines and learning about the culture turned him into a collector of stories, who was aching to introduce others to this lesser-known India.
A chance meeting with Vasu and Udit, the other founders who were already running a successful traveller hostel and travel company, led to the idea of opening a hotel that was more than a place to spend the night.
The idea of starting something that would truly connect a destination with the guests and showcase cities unlike anyone else had ever done. The three of them wanted to create a place where everyone was part of one big family, forever connected with love, respect and empathy for each other.
They spent months planning the way forward, during which Abid came across the concept of “Ekaa” while reading a spiritual book inspired by the teachings of the Rig Veda. The philosophy and the name stuck, and in late 2017, Abid hung his corporate boots to join Vasu and Udit to start Ekaa Hotels, which was launched in 2018. Since then he’s been using his years of travel experience to create a hotel where everyone truly feels at home, a place where you can let go and relax. A place that lets you explore the city at your own pace - something he learnt from his own trips around the world.
Vasu
This modern-day nomad likes to go only by his first name. A college dropout, Vasu never really stuck to what is called ‘normal’. During his time at university, he met Udit and the two continued to be friends, sharing their dreams and aspirations of great travels all over the world.
Working his way into top HR firms without a college degree, Vasu realised that he was not really keen on life in the corporate world and decided to quit at the top of his game to work for an NGO. He was part of different organizations that worked within India and internationally, giving him first-hand experience in hosting people.
In 2010, when Udit launched his travel company, Vasu helped him with curating experiences that would suit all kinds of travelers. While planning out the programmes for international visitors, the two friends realized the need for stay options which were homely, unlike the standard hotels.
Places that would bring travellers together, bonding over their shared love of the destination. A hotel that does not behave like a rabbit and lets you explore things at a slow and easy pace, giving you a chance to know the city, its people, culture and food. That led to the birth of Ekaa in 2018, after running one of India’s most successful and awarded backpackers hostels, Jugaad Hostels.
While Udit’s connection to the city is very personal, for Vasu one of the reasons was the fact that something about the Taj Mahal makes him fall in love with the Agra over and over again.
Multiple award winner Ipsita Mondal knew that she wanted to be an architect since she was a child. Design, buildings, interiors and structures have been a part of what she describes as a ‘good roller coaster’, a joy ride of ups and downs with many milestones. From being a Chevening Scholar (winning a fully funded scholarship to pursue a master's in the UK) to teaching at the Sushant School of Architecture, Ipsita has always believed in punching above her weight and being successful at that too.
Her journey with the group started much before the conceptualization of Ekaa when she had replied to Udit’s call for architects on social media. While that project did not work out, they did get in touch again for Jugaad Hostels and that was the start of a unique design journey.
Work on Ekaa started as soon as Ipsita was back from London after completing her master's. The brief was simple but not easy by any standards. Ekaa was to be a reflection of the city’s social structure. A complete amalgamation of all that Agra stands for, bringing the elements of the streets into a modern setting. A modern Taj Mahal with glimpses of the past with clean, minimal designs while being sensuous and classy without any overbearing ornamentation.
Multiple trips were arranged to Agra for her to feel the city and get inspired by its flavours, food, people and most importantly the Taj Mahal, and bring those elements into the property. She was introduced to all aspects of the city to design the hotel that the team had envisioned.
