Hi! I'm Mani Mahesh, a life design coach, social entrepreneur, author, and former media professional who somehow managed to swap boardrooms for barnyards and city lights for starry skies.

Back home in India, my partner, Suhas [www.couchsurfing.com/people/suhasm] — whom I met through Couchsurfing in 2021 — and I host together when we can. We both believe that a roof over your head is important, but real hospitality begins when stories are exchanged and chai is brewed without checking the clock.

Over the last few years, we've worked across rural India on grassroots projects, from reviving Himalayan homestays to creating reverse migration models and climate-smart villages. But honestly, hosting couchsurfers keeps us grounded in the kind of unfiltered, real-world exchange we love.

We value integrity, compassion, and curiosity.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Because hotel walls don’t talk, and people do.

Couchsurfing reminds me that the world is still full of curious, kind, resourceful humans. Hosting isn't just about offering a bed. It's about opening a window into our lives and learning something from yours. My partner Suhas and I host when we can, not out of obligation, but because we believe in slow, meaningful travel and in conversations that go beyond “What do you do?”

Before you request to stay with us

If you're reaching out to stay with us, please write a message that shows you've read the profile and are genuinely interested in connecting, not just looking for a free roof. A little courtesy goes a long way.

If your message feels copy-pasted or careless, I'm completely okay saying no. No hard feelings. Just good boundaries.

Interests

- Community-led tourism (the real kind, not the marketing brochure kind)
- Permaculture, traditional farming, and reversing rural exodus
- Life design, coaching, and conscious living
- Listening to music while staring at the mountains like it's a life choice
- Languages, cultural myths, and why people believe what they do
- Long walks with Suhas, goats, or ideas
- Cooking (well… Suhas does, I eat and clean up like a champ)
- Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka.

Bonus: I low-key love asking uncomfortable questions at dinner. Like: What would you do if money wasn't an issue?

• human rights
• cooking
• yoga
• meditation
• traveling
• pottery
• music
• hiking
• permaculture
• farming
• strength training

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: From soulful Hindustani classical to moody folk to Coke Studio Pakistan and the occasional indie rock rabbit hole

Movies: Any film that doesn't insult your intelligence

Books:
- Designing Your Life by Burnett & Evans
- Into The Wild
- The Pillars of Consciousness: Life and Teachings of Gautam Buddha
- The Energy of Money
- Mastering Life's Energies.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I co-created a rural tourism project that brought 6,000 goats under insurance, revived ghost villages, and helped reverse urban migration in the Himalayas. Then I wrote a book about responsible tourism for 6-year-olds.

Also once got mistaken for a monk by a fellow traveler. Took it as a compliment.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach

- How to build a life you don't need a vacation from
- Responsible tourism, slow travel, and design thinking
- Hosting guests like family (and knowing when to say no politely).

Learn

- New cooking styles, cultural traditions, and how you see the world
- Any language hack that isn't on Duolingo
- How to be even more present and less busy.

Share

- Travel stories with actual impact
- Farm-fresh food, homemade ghee, or pickles (if you're lucky)
- Laughter, books, playlists, and chai.

What I Can Share with Hosts

If I'm staying with you, expect deep respect for your space, culture, and rhythm. I travel light but bring stories, good energy, and the ability to clean a kitchen like it's a meditation room.

I'm happy to offer help with:

- Cooking (or at least chopping)
- Coaching conversations if you're in a life transition
- Documenting your initiative (former journalist perks)
- Swapping music, language tips, or even recipes
- And I never overstay my welcome. Promise.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kenya, Nepal, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, Kenya, Thailand