How to Create an Indian Family Tree Online (Step-by-Step)
Creating a family tree on Vamshavriksha takes under 2 minutes. It is completely free, works on any device, and is designed specifically for Indian families. Here is how to get started.
Step 1: Enter Your Family Name and Email
Go to vamshavriksha.com/start. Enter your family name (surname) and email address. The platform will first check if a tree with that name already exists — if it does, you can request access instead of creating a duplicate.
Your email is used only for verification and PIN recovery. There is no spam and no marketing emails.
Step 2: Verify Your Email and Set an Admin PIN
Check your inbox for a one-time verification code and enter it. Then choose a 4-6 digit admin PIN. This PIN is what controls edit access to your tree — anyone with the PIN can add or modify members. Share it only with trusted family members.
If you forget your PIN later, you can reset it via email from the edit screen.
Step 3: Add Yourself as the First Member
Enter your name and gender to become the root of the tree. You can optionally add your date of birth, photo, location, and cultural details like gothram and nakshatra right away, or come back to fill them in later.
Step 4: Build Your Tree by Adding Family Members
Click on any member to add their parents, children, siblings, or spouse. The tree grows organically as you add relationships. You have two ways to add members:
- Manual — click the add button and fill in details.
- Ask Narada — use the AI family wellwisher with natural language. For example: “Add my father Ramesh, born in 1955, from Hyderabad” or “Add three children to Lakshmi.”
For each member, you can record: name (in English and Indian languages), date of birth, photo, biography, gothram, nakshatra, rashi, education, occupation, ancestral village, community, and more.
Step 5: Share with Family on WhatsApp
Click Share in the navigation to get your tree link, family code (like VNJM-1841), or a QR code. Share any of these via WhatsApp, SMS, or email. Family members can view the tree with just the link or code, and edit it if they have the admin PIN.
You can also use the “Invite to build branch” feature on any member's profile to send a personalized WhatsApp message asking a relative to add their part of the tree.
Tips for Building a Great Family Tree
- Start with what you know — add your immediate family first, then expand outward to grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.
- Talk to elders — older family members often know details about ancestors that aren't recorded anywhere else. Record these before they are lost.
- Add photos and biographies — a family tree with photos and stories is far more engaging than names and dates alone. Use the AI biography generator to get started.
- Record cultural details — gothram, nakshatra, moolasthanam (ancestral village), and kuldevta are part of your heritage. See the Indian Family Tree Glossary for definitions.
- Appoint a Heritage Ambassador — designate one or more family members who will maintain and grow the tree over time. They get a dashboard with one-click access to all their trees.
- Use the family quiz — the auto-generated quiz is a great way to engage family members at gatherings and get them interested in contributing to the tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really free? Yes, 100% free. No ads, no premium tiers, no hidden costs.
Do I need to download an app? No. Vamshavriksha works entirely in your web browser.
What languages are supported? English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Bengali, and Gujarati — with automatic transliteration.
For more answers, see the full FAQ.
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