High Places

What High Places does

High Places is a Pune-based outdoor experiential learning company founded in 1989 by Vasant Limaye and Mrunal Paranjape, widely credited as the pioneer of Outbound Learning in India after conducting the country's first Outdoor Management Development Programme for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited on 27 September 1989. The company designs and delivers customized experiential training programmes — Outdoor Management Development Programmes (OMDP), classroom-based skills training, and Organizational Development consulting — serving corporate organizations, PSUs, institutions, schools, NGOs, families, and individuals across India and five international markets (Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Oman, Dubai).

The company's core infrastructure asset is Garudmaachi, a 55-acre purpose-built eco-friendly Outdoor Development Centre in Tamhini Ghat, Maharashtra, which it describes as the only such facility in India. Programme design integrates established psychological assessment tools (MBTI, CPI, BEI, FIRO-B, 360-degree feedback) with outdoor challenges such as treks, rappelling, climbing, jumaring, and proprietary formats like Garud Bharari. Delivery relies on a team of 20+ facilitators and 75+ outdoor experts, and programmes are customized to client objectives spanning team building, leadership development, induction, change management, and family wellness.

The business model is direct B2B enterprise field sales, with pricing on a customized, per-programme basis. The company has cumulatively served 800+ clients and runs 700+ programmes annually, distributed across a long tail of industries (Technology, Automotive, Pharmaceuticals, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Energy). It remains privately held and founder-led, with no external funding rounds, M&A, or public listing disclosed. The marketing mix is consultative direct sales augmented by client testimonials, a website (highplaces.co.in), and social media channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).

Name

High Places

Legal name

High Places

Website

https://highplaces.co.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

High Places is a Pune-based outdoor experiential learning company founded in 1989, pioneering Outbound Learning in India for corporate, institutional, school, NGO, and family clients through customized programmes and its flagship 55-acre Garudmaachi facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Experiential Learning Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Outdoor Training & Team-Building Programs (Experiential Learning) (THAAAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

Keywords

• Outbound experiential learning
• Outdoor management development
• Corporate team building
• Leadership development training
• Organizational development consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Pune

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Outdoor Management Development Programmes (OMDP): Residential outdoor learning programmes customized for organizational needs, focusing on self-development, leadership, and team building. Delivered at client locations or at Garudmaachi centre.
2. Classroom Training Programmes: Indoor training programmes covering consultative selling, customer service, presentation skills, communication skills, and other business competencies.
3. OD and Strategy Consulting: Organizational Development and Strategy consulting services including change management, goal setting, individual interventions, conflict management, and family business consulting.
4. Different Strokes: Children programmes, family wellness programmes, forest bathing, bird watching, music/art/spiritual retreats, corporate adventure challenges, and creek jaunts for various customer segments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

High Places delivers customized outdoor experiential learning and training programmes to corporate organizations, PSUs, institutions, schools, NGOs, families, and individuals. The core offer includes Outdoor Management Development Programmes (OMDP) for team building and leadership, Classroom Training Programmes for skills like consultative selling and communication, OD and Strategy Consulting for change and conflict management, and the Different Strokes portfolio covering children's camps, family wellness, and adventure challenges. Programmes are delivered at the company's own 55-acre Garudmaachi Outdoor Development Centre in Tamhini Ghat or at client locations across India and select international markets.

Product overview

High Places is an outdoor learning and development company offering a portfolio of experiential training programmes. The core offerings include Outdoor Management Development Programmes (OMDP) conducted at various natural locations, with their flagship venue Garudmaachi—a purpose-built 55-acre eco-friendly Outdoor Development Centre near Tamhini Ghat. The product line encompasses Outbound Training Programmes (team building, leadership, induction), Classroom Training Programmes (consultative selling, communication, presentation skills), OD and Strategy Consulting (change management, conflict management), and Different Strokes (specialized programmes including children camps, wellness retreats, adventure challenges, bird photography, and art/music workshops). The company also offers customized interventions integrating psychological tools like MBTI, CPI, BEI, FIRO-B, and 360-degree feedbacks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Garudmaachi: Purpose-built eco-friendly Outdoor Development Centre located near Tamhini Ghat, Maharashtra, spread over 55 acres of lush evergreen forest. Offers accommodation, training facilities, and adventure activities.
• Highland Champs
• Garud Bharari

Products and services

• Garudmaachi - Outdoor Development Centre A 55-acre purpose-built eco-friendly Outdoor Development Centre located near Tamhini Ghat, Maharashtra, offering both outdoor and indoor facilities for residential training programmes, conferences, meetings, and wellness retreats. Features accommodation (24 A/C rooms, 18 cottage tents, 4 billets, camping tents, gazebos), syndicate and conference halls, multiple dining areas, climbing and rappelling wall, and multiple trails and treks perched on the edge of the Sahyadri Mountain Range.
• Outdoor Management Development Programmes (OMDP) Residential experiential learning programmes focused on self-development, team building, and leadership development conducted in natural outdoor settings. Customized for organizational needs including self, leadership, and team development, and delivered at client locations or at the Garudmaachi centre.
• Classroom Training Programmes Indoor training programmes covering consultative selling, customer service, presentation skills, communication skills, B2C retail selling, decision making, time management, conflict management, and financial acumen. Designed for all levels of management across the corporate sector.
• OD and Strategy Consulting Organizational Development and Strategy consulting services focusing on change management, goal setting, individual interventions, conflict management, and family business consulting. Targeted at leadership teams and organizations needing structured intervention support.
• Different Strokes A specialized portfolio of programmes including Highland Champs (children's adventure camps), Wellness Outdoor Camps, Drizzly Days, Creek Jaunt, Garud Bharari (three-day adventure challenge), Camp With Dad, Bird Hide for photography, Forest Bathing, Camping, Reunions, and Art and Music Workshops. Designed for families, children, schools, and corporate adventure groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35+ years of experience, 700+ programmes per year, 800+ clients served
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BTMEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBTME is a local partner in the Sultanate of Oman that collaborated with High Places for conducting the first Outdoor Training Programme in Oman. The partnership enabled international programme delivery for corporate clients.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NIIT Limited: Large Indian corporate training and learning solutions provider with a much wider portfolio spanning technology training, leadership, and managed learning services. A broader incumbent whose corporate L&D offering competes for the same wallet.
• FranklinCovey India: India arm of the global leadership and organizational performance firm. Overlaps with High Places' OD consulting and leadership development offerings but is methodology-led rather than outdoor-led.
• Dale Carnegie India: Global corporate training brand with established India operations offering leadership, sales, and communication training. Comparable to High Places' Classroom Training and OD consulting streams with broader global methodology and brand.

Others

• Thrillophilia: Indian adventure and experiential travel marketplace. Adjacent rather than directly competing; relevant for the Different Strokes consumer/wellness segment and outbound travel adjacencies.

Regional players

• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): US-based global leader in outdoor education and leadership training. Comparable methodology and target audience (leadership development through wilderness experiences) but operates primarily in North America rather than India.

Emerging players

• Leapvault Learning: India-based corporate training provider focused on behavioural and leadership development. Overlaps with High Places' classroom training and OD consulting streams but without the outdoor delivery asset.
• Roundglass Outlife: India-based outdoor experiential platform offering adventure retreats, corporate offsites, and wellness programmes. Competes with High Places' Different Strokes and corporate outdoor portfolio, with stronger digital consumer brand.

Direct peers

• Outward Bound India: India arm of the global Outward Bound network offering outdoor experiential learning programmes. Directly comparable to High Places' OMDP and outbound training portfolio with similar target customers (corporates, schools, youth).
• Antahkarana HR Services: India-based OD and behavioural training firm offering outbound and experiential learning for corporates. Direct competitor to High Places in the OD consulting and outbound training space, especially in Western India.
• Eklavya Adventures: Indian experiential learning company offering outbound training, team building, and adventure programmes for corporates. Directly competes with High Places in the same geography and customer segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/highplacesindia
• Facebookfacebook.com/highplacesindia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/highplacesindia
• Instagraminstagram.com/garudmaachi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about High Places