नमस्ते! I’m Abhinav Pandey—Here’s Our Story 🚖✨
I grew up watching my father Sudhir Pandey turn a single Ambassador car into a lifeline for pilgrims landing at Varanasi Junction. What began as a modest Vinayak Travels Tour counter in 1998 is now Banarasi Kashitaxi: a tech‑enabled fleet serving 30+ cities across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with special focus on women‑only Pink Taxis and curated Buddhist Circuit tours.
Why We Exist
“Every traveller deserves a safe, transparent, and truly local ride.”
— Sudhir Pandey, Founder
- Safety first: GPS‑tracked cars, verified female chauffeurs for Pink Taxi, and 24 × 7 helpline.
- Local soul: Drivers are born‑and‑raised Banarasis who can chant the right ghat timings by heart.
- Fair pricing: No surge shock. Fares are published online, and seats are confirmed only after you approve the quote—no hidden extras.
- Tech + heart: I handle route algorithms and the website while Dad blesses every outstation booking with a quick “Jai Maa Ganga.” Best of both worlds.
What We Offer
- Airport Transfers (VNS ↔ City) – Sedan ₹ 850, SUV ₹ 1 350, Tempo Traveller on request.
- Pink Taxi for Women Travellers – Lady driver, SOS button, discreet number plate masking.
- Outstation Cabs – Lucknow, Prayagraj, Bodhgaya, Ayodhya & more.
- Self‑Drive Scooters & Bikes – Pick‑up at Sigra garage; photo KYC done offline in 5 min.
- Custom Tours – Sunrise boat rides, Dev Deepawali packages, eight‑day Buddhist trail, food walks with local chefs.
Our Values
| Value | What It Means on the Road |
|---|---|
| Transparency | You see the fare breakdown before you pay. |
| Inclusivity | Pink Taxi, wheelchair‑accessible Innovas, and guides fluent in English, Hindi, Tamil & Japanese. |
| Integrity | No kickbacks to shops, no forced “shopping stops.” |
| Sustainability | CNG & hybrid vehicles, metal water bottles in every cab. |
| Local Pride | 5 % of annual profit funds ghat clean‑ups and stray‑dog vaccinations. |
Meet the Team
| Name | Role | Superpower |
|---|---|---|
| Sudhir Pandey | Founder & Chief Mentor | Knows every shortcut when the aarti crowds hit. |
| Abhinav Pandey | COO & Head of Digital | Turns guest feedback into new features in a single sprint. |
| Kiran Dubey | Pink Taxi Fleet Lead | 8 yrs accident‑free, speaks fluent English & Japanese. |
| Ramesh Gupta | Operations Manager | Can juggle 40 driver schedules while sipping chai. |
Milestones That Matter
- 1998 – Vinayak Travels Tour founded with one Ambassador.
- 2010 – First online airport‑pickup booking via SMS!
- 2018 – Fleet crosses 50 vehicles; self‑drive scooter rentals launch.
- 2023 – Pink Taxi service for women travellers inaugurated on Holi.
- 2025 – Website relaunch as Banarasi Kashitaxi with AI‑powered fare estimator.
Press & Praise
- “The most reliable cab company in Varanasi.” — Times of India, Travel Edition (2024)
- ⭐ 4.8/5 rating from 600+ Google reviews
- Recommended by Lonely Planet’s “National Geographic Traveller India” feature (2025)
Ready to Ride?
Book your ride or just ping us:
- Call/WhatsApp: +91 94503 01573 | +91 99354 74730
- E‑mail: sudhir.vinayaktravels@gmail.com
- Or swing by L 10/125, Shastri Nagar (near IP Mall), Sigra, Varanasi – 221 002.
Have questions? Our Contact Us page has every hotline, map, and form you’ll ever need.