Born and raised in Bombay, Payal completed her master’s in Geology from St. Xavier’s College. Alongside, she got trained as a mountaineer and got a diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication. After her post-graduation, through her interactions with the Bombay Natural History Society, she signed up for the Taj Safaris – &Beyond naturalist training program. Post her training, she spent the most joyful 3 years working as a naturalist stationed at Banjaar Tola, Kanha National Park.

Payal freelances as a wildlife tour leader, and guides in Nepal, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka & Borneo. Her journey as a naturalist trainer began in 2012 at Rao Jodha Park, Jodhpur where she — along with Pradip Krishen and her husband Harsha — trained two local boys to become naturalist guides for visitors.

She has also been involved, along with her husband Harsha, with training guides across the country for over a decade and finds that to be the most rewarding work. In collaboration with Nature Conservation Foundation, the two also curated and ran India’s first online guide training program for rural youth during the lockdown.

In 2024, Payal & Harsha formalised their training work by setting up Nature Guides Academy. They hope to continue this work to create a wider pool of sensitive (to people as well as to nature), fun, knowledgeable and ethical nature guides in India.