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Vol 2, Issue 3

Responsibly & Sustainably

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The OrganisaTiOn ThaT WOrked TO rescue FlOOd aFFecTed animals

susTainable living and TOurism implemenTed by One man TO imprOve lives

cOmmuniTy acTiOn TO revive 200 acres OF deFOresTed land

blOck prinTing in bagru — ancienT TradiTiOns OF prinTing

yOung minds give bOOsT TO ecOTOurism

• Meet the artisans...• experience their work and learn...• Bond with the coMMunity, experience local culture...• stay in a typical rural hoMe...• contriBute to environMent, choose an eco resort...• conserve wildlife, Biodiversity... be a respOnsible TOurisT!

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ow many men does it take to turn a rocky and parched hill, spread over a few kilometres, into a lush green

paradise that birds find irresistible? The answer is one. And this man from Srirangapatna (South India) has proved it. It took Ramesh Y five years of back-breaking toil, but his efforts have borne much fruit. Ramesh is a 40-year-old graduate who abandoned law studies to take up small works to support his family. Eventually, he became a supplier of mineral water in Srirangapatna and nearby areas. He was a regular at the Venkataramanaswamy temple, nestled in Karighatta hills.

But every time, Ramesh went up the hill, it bothered him to find its scanty vegetation withering away in the heat. One day, he decided to do something about it. “I could see a few plants around, but they obviously weren’t tended to. I built small bunds around each and watered them. It was quite a task, which I soon realised was also in vain. This wasn’t going to work. It was too hot and the water would seep in too fast,” Ramesh told.

Someone told him that drip irrigation was the best way to save the trees. But with his limited income, there was no way he could afford to lay pipelines around Karighatta, spread across 5-8 sq km. One day, when he was trying to junk an expired water can, an idea struck. “Why not use this for drip irrigation? I had plenty of such cans at my disposal. Using them would be cost-effective and would easily serve the purpose,” said Ramesh. The only investment would be the wires, and of course, his time.

Once he learnt the technique, he went on to select the plants and tie the modified mineral water cans around them. He would cut off the bottom half of these cans and suspend them upside down, letting the water dribble out of the mouth. He ensured that the drops fell onto the roots. In a few days, it was clear that the plan was working. The greenery had started spreading. The orange of the parched land was changing into a luscious green.

“Once filled up, the cans could hold water at least for two to three days. This made my job easy

and I extended the project to many more trees so that I could alternately water them,” said Ramesh. The blooming landscape not only pleased him, but also the birds in the area. The availability of water was a big draw for the winged visitors. But he saw how they struggled to take a sip while precariously balancing on the edge of the can. And when the water level dropped, it became an impossible feat altogether.

Being the problem-solver that he is, Ramesh came out with another indigenous idea—he placed a stick inside the cans. Now the birds not only had a better grip, but could also reach the water regardless of its level.

Ramesh is also actively engaged in planting new saplings. “I go to the market once in a while to buy seeds for neem, jack fruit, tamarind, millettia pinnata and others. Not every seed sprouts, even my limited success over the course of time will bear fruit. My dream is to see this area converted into a dense forest. It will definitely help in increasing rainfall in this area,” said Ramesh.

Barren, rocky hill converted into a lush green paradise by ramesh

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Puducherry Welcomes You

4th to 7th January, every year

YogaFestival

International

Web: http://www.pondytourism.in/ email: pondytourism@gmail.com

Interesting Features•  yoga meditation

•  yogasana practical

•  Presentation of papers, discourses & workshops

•  yoga Therapy

•  yogic food

•  yogic music & dance

2 w w w . t r a v e l r e s p o n s i B l y . i n f o w w w . t r a v e l r e s p o n s i B l y . i n f o 3

also provides many facilities to its students such as a library, well equipped laboratory, research centre, computer facilities and modern medical facilities.

The Jogi Ayurved Hospital located in Surat is another famous Ayurvedic medical centre. The team is led by one of the leading Ayurveda Practitioner of India: Dr. Devangi Nilesh Jogal, M.D. (Ayu.), Double Gold Medalist. Apart from the complete range of Ayurvedic Treatment, Jogi Ayurved Hospital also has a full-fledged team for providing services of Garbh Sanskar and Agni Karma.

They are also involved in many activities aiming at enhancing the awareness about the efficacy and applicability of Ayurveda as the most preferable system of healing. For this, seminars, lectures, camps and group discussions are organized at various levels in the society.

PIONEER IN AYURVEDIC TOURISM

Gujarat is doing extremely well in Ayurveda based medical tourism. There is an advent in the growth of the number of spa and Ayurveda centers in Gujarat.

From relaxing Swedish massage to the rejuvenating Panchkarma, Gujarat’s Ayurveda centers have many options to keep the mind and body relaxed. Cambay Orient Spa and Resort in Gandhinagar, Madhuban Resort and Spa in Vallabh Vidyanagar and Aum Health Resort in Vadodara are some of the finest spa centers in Gujarat, which have varied options to stabilize body, mind and soul.

The Aum Health Resort in Vadodara is situated within the serene atmosphere amongst the gushy and green trees. The residential treatment center is spread over a 17 acre land at close

to Ajwa lake, 26 kms far away from Vadodara city. At AIMRC every patient is treated holistically. It incorporates different systems of medicine and therapies.

The RMD Cancer Hospital in Gujarat is India’s only hospital offering Ayurvedic treatment for cancer patients at subsidized affordable rates.

Moreover, there is special care taken to arrange good quality of food for patients and relatives at just Re 1. The RMD Cancer Hospital is all set to provide an excellent cancer treatment to its patients. The state-of-the-art centre at Waghaldhara, Valsaad provides cancer treatment with a difference.

Gujarat is slowly and gradually becoming an offbeat Ayurvedic center in India. The state has earned many titles and applauds for its world class spa

and Ayurveda resorts. Gujarat was the first state in India that started the concept of Ayurveda schools. Tourists from around the world visit Gujarat in pursuit of healing Ayurvedic treatments and therapeutics.

“Ayurveda based medical tourism is growing and Gujarat has good potential. We are striving towards making Gujarat a hub of Ayurveda, naturopathy based tourism,” says Mr. Nityanand Srivastav, MD, Gujarat Tourism Corporation Limited.

ayurveda TOurism in guJaraT

yurveda is an ancient system of medicine with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent.

It has been handed down from one generation to the other since ages. Although it dates back to 5 millenniums, its therapeutic values are now once again being realized all over the world.

Ayurveda employs a holistic approach for elimination of illnesses by focusing on the root cause of the diseases. Ayurveda also aims at maintaining a perfect

balance between the body, soul and mind. In this present era of busy and stressful lives, Ayurveda is now viewed as a remedy for all these ills.

THE LAND OF INNUMEROUS MEDICINAL

PLANTS

Located off the west coast of India, Gujarat is home to Ayurveda since many centuries.

Most of the herbs used for curing illnesses by means of the Ayurvedic healing processes are seeded and grown in this state. The sufficient

agro-bio diversity contributes to the growth of 786 herbs which are also called medicinal plants. Some of the well known ones include—Shatavari, Sonamukhi, Sankhapushpi, White Musli, Neem, Jeevanti, Isabghol, Aloe Vera and Asawagandha.

JAMNAGAR – AYURVEDIC RESEARCH

AND EDUCATION CENTRE

Jamnagar occupies a proud place in the Ayurveda map of India, for it has the only Ayurvedic University in the country which is exclusively looking after Ayurvedic research and education. The University Gardens boast of more than 200 species of herbs and medicinal plants. The famous J.S. Ayurved Mahavidyalaya is located in Nadiad district of Gujarat. The college is a private aided institution, which is affiliated to Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar.

The Ayurveda College was established in 1938, to promote this vital ancient science. The institute

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The cleanesT village in asia

awlynnong claims to be the Cleanest Village in Asia. The road leading up to it

has some of the most panoramic and breathtaking views in the country.

Nestled in the pristine East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya (North East of Indian state), the residents of this picturesque village along the Indo-Bangla border have learnt to live at harmony with Mother Nature and might very well become an example that urban folk should emulate.

As one walks around the narrow zig-zagging paths of the village one is astounded by the clean well maintained black tarmac and the spotless front-yards and sidewalks of the bamboo stilt houses.

There are stylish bamboo dustbins everywhere and separate compost pits in various pockets of the village for organic and inorganic wastes.

Polythene use is completely banned and so is smoking. There are public toilets which the

villagers themselves maintain and everyone takes part in the ritual weeding, sweeping and cleaning of the gardens and roads which happens every evening.

Even the children are taught from an early age to keep their surroundings clean and they don’t hesitate to pick up the odd piece of garbage on the road and put it in the bin. The village is well supplied with an efficient localized water supply and sanitation system.

Just outside the village on the river is situated the amazing living roots bridge which speaks out for the ingenuity of the people. It is over 200 years old and was constructed by tying the roots of two banyan trees and maneuvering them to get entangled in such a way as to create a passage over the stream.

The Sky-view tower on the eastern side of the village is a tall structure built on the support of a tree with bamboos and gives a wonderful view of the Bangladesh plains.

For the discerning traveler there are many unmapped trails that one can explore around the village full of little waterfalls and sacred forests abounding in flora and fauna. The guest houses in the village are basic tree houses built on top of stilts that almost jut out into the adjacent forest. Staying in them is an experience in itself.

There is a lot urban society could learn from Mawlynnong and its environmentally conscious citizens. The self sustaining models though rudimentary have very strong foundations and have more to do with behavior and customs that the peoples have adhered to and upheld. With the increasing influx of tourists, the challenge for Mawlynnong is to maintain its culture and also educate outsiders with their ways.

Mawlynnong can be reached by road and it is roughly a three hour drive from Meghalaya’s capital, Shillong. The nearest airport is Guwahati, in Assam, which is around three hours from Shillong and is well connected.

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unTravel Weekends: kabani The OTher direcTiOn

IF YOU LOVE TRAVELLING bUT AREN’T SURE HOw TO DO IT RESPONSIbLY, & LEAVE AN IMPACT ON THE SOCIETY wHILE YOU ENJOY YOURSELF, KAbANI IS FOR YOU!

amed after the Kabani River, one of the rivers in Kerala flowing in the “other direction”,

Kabani attempts to facilitate an alternative outlook towards travel and tourism. It works towards a better tourism model in India, finding its basis in local people, focusing on the socio-economic security of the people and sustainability of the destination Sumesh Mangalassery from the organization talks about Kabani, responsible travel, their journey and much more.

Q: How it all started?Sumesh: We envision Kabani as an organization working on tourism issues in the areas of research, and campaigning against the negative impacts of tourism on local communities and natural resources. After many years of opposing the malpractices in tourism, we decided on proposing

a better and fair travel which can benefit the local communities by adding to their regular income from farming and at the same time [remain] totally in tune with the environment.

Hence our first tourism project at Bamboo Village, Thrikkaipetta, Wayanad was developed in association with Uravu, an NGO based at Wayanad.

The second project was launched in Alleppey, involving fishing and farming communities in the backwaters and coastal areas. Now we expanded our programmes considerably in many other Indian villages where we can offer a fair package of diverse travel experience to our guests across south India.

These programs cannot be just limited to be termed as tourism projects,but has a responsibility to sustainably develop the village as a whole. As tourism researchers

and campaigners against unsustainable tourism, we realized the need for a better model to of sustainable tourism that benefits people.

We want the communities involved to be creative, self-reliant and responsible for their own living conditions and socio-economic security through active participation in development activities.

Organic farming, coir processing, fishing, sculptures, weaving, bamboo handicrafts, food processing units, home stays and tourism activities are all included in the programs.

Q: How does Kabini promote sustainable travel?

Sumesh: As proposers of sustainable travel we believe and implement a set of practices which ensures the sustainability of the program:

One of the homestaysSumeSH mangalaSSeri, CHairman & managing DireCtor

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i) Community driven initiativesThe basic principles behind the program where the community lies in the centre as decision makers and not just suppliers of produces.

Kabani, as an organization focusing on sustainable socioeconomic development of villages and the conservation of natural resources, continues to share this philosophy by promoting more villages at different locations across India, which is in tune with their vision on tourism that it should always benefit the local people neither diluting their culture nor harming the environment.

ii) Benefit sharing with communities (Families and Village as whole)For the locals, this is a way to decentralize tourism and directly benefit from guest’s holiday budgets. As their homes can cater for a few additional guests, the initial investment being very low or rather nil.

In addition, a benefit sharing scheme makes sure that the entire village has its fair share. 60 per cent of the income from accommodation stays with the host families, and another 15 percent goes to a village fund to provide professional trainings, support youth and old age projects, development of village level entrepreneurships, and the ongoing development of thetourism project.

The remaining 25 per cent cover the expenses of the organization KABANI and its sustainable tourism activities.

iii) Placing local People at the centre of cultural exchangeThe project caters to travellers who look for a very personal and ethical way to stay. The travellers are accommodated in family homes, sharing their hosts’ daily

routine, getting to learn about their lives first-hand and tasting the wonderful flavors of home-cooked Keralite dishes. Here you find exchange of more values and culture than just that of words or currencies.

The hosts welcomes the guests to their homes being guests of God. Here the hospitality does not begin and end merely with food being served to you and a room provided; but with families sharing their time and lives with you with no intrusion to privacies.

iv) Environment conservation and enhancementWe also view the conversation of the environment and our natural resources as an integral

part of the initiative. A set of principles evolved with the values of the community including the clear understanding of the waste management and effective utilization of village resources makes our villages shower harmony and becomes an example to the neighboring villages.

v) tourism not a development model but a facilitatorHere we propose tourism not as an alternative to the traditional income sources, but as a additional source of income which can enhance the living conditions of the village communities, such as farmers, coastal communities etc.

Organic farming and other enterprises ensure sustainable income generation, whereas tourism provides a complementary income source. The investment of the in tourism has been kept to the minimum, since we don’t want it to replace the traditional livelihood means as the main source of livelihood....

KABANI focuses on sustainable socio-economic development of villages and the conservation of natural resources.

Kabani also view the conversation of the environment and our natural resources as an integral part of the initiative.

INTERVIEW

Read the whole story in the CD

8 w w w . t r a v e l r e s p o n s i B l y . i n f o

magine a village where homes have no front doors, shops are always left unlocked and locals

never feel unsafe.

This is the story of Shani Shingnapur in India’s Maharashtra state, where villagers eschew security because of their undying faith in Lord Shani, the god of Saturn, who is considered the guardian of the village. Legend has it that about 300 years ago, after a bout of rain and flooding, a heavy black slab of rock was found washed up on the shores of the Panasnala River, which once flowed through the village.

Later that night, Shani appeared in the dreams of the village head, revealing that the slab was his own idol. The deity ordered that the slab should be kept in the village, where he would reside from here on. But Shani had one condition: the rock and its colossal powers must not be sheltered as he needed to be able to oversee the village without hindrance.

Shani then blessed the leader and promised to protect the village from danger. After the villagers installed the huge slab on

a roofless platform in the heart of town, they decided to discard all doors and locks. They didn’t need them anymore, not with the Lord to watch over them.This tradition has continued for generations. Locals occasionally lean wooden panels against their front door frames to keep stray dogs out – but they have no permanent doors, and leave their jewellery and money unsecured, firmly believing that their holy guardian will protect them from any mishap. Even the public toilets in the village square just have a thin curtain at the entrance for privacy.

New constructions have to honour these protocols, too. The police station – which only opened in September 2015 and has not yet received a single complaint from the villagers – has no front door; while the United Commercial Bank opened India’s first “lockless” branch in Shani Shingnapur in 2011, installing a glass entrance in the spirit of transparency and a barely visible remote-controlled electromagnetic lock in respect of the villagers’ beliefs.

Locals are so nonchalant that they don’t even ask their

neighbours to watch over their house while they are out of town. They believe that thieves will immediately be punished with blindness and anyone dishonest will face seven-and-a-half years of bad luck. In fact, local lore says that when one villager installed wooden panes at the entrance of his house, he had a car accident the very next day.

Because of this strange history, Shani Shingnapur attracts devotees from across India. At least 40,000 visitors pour in each day to see the once-humble shrine that has grown into a large temple.

Although Shani Shingnapur has officially remained free from thefts for centuries, a 2010 visitor reported that cash and valuables worth 35,000 rupees were stolen from his vehicle. Another theft of gold ornaments worth 70,000 rupees was reported in 2011. However the charges were dismissed as the villagers insisted that they took place outside the village.

Most villagers at Shani Shingnapur hope that the tradition will continue for many centuries to come.

The village WiTh nO lOcks Or dOOrs!

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w w w . t r a v e l r e s p o n s i B l y . i n f o 1110 w w w . t r a v e l r e s p o n s i B l y . i n f o

he new buzz word in the world of travel, voluntourism is a concept that aims to

combine people’s wanderlust with their desire to make a difference. India has several voluntourism organisations that offer diverse and pocket friendly opportunities for community service combined with eco-friendly vacations.

One such enterprise is World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). This non-profit organisation works with tourists and organic farms to facilitate the barter of a few hours of daily volunteer work in exchange for accommodation, delicious food and a chance to learn organic farming techniques.

Many countries the world over have WWOOF chapters that help tourists and locals work with organic farms of their choice.

WWOOF originally stood for “Working Weekends on Organic Farms” and was started in England

in 1971 by Sue Coppard, The aim was to provide city dwellers with a getaway to the countryside, while promoting the organic farming movement. The idea soon became popular with backpackers and now, more than 50 countries across the globe have their autonomous WWOOF networks.

WWOOF is now an international exchange programme. The organisation publishes lists of organic farms, smallholdings and gardeners that welcome volunteer help. Volunteer helpers or WWOOFers choose the hosts that interest them and make direct contact to arrange a stay, usually with the farmer’s family.

WWOOF India was started on August 15, 2007, by Harish Chander Tewari, a member of SEWAK — an Uttarakhand-based NGO that promotes organic agriculture and local handicrafts.

While initially there were only 14 hosts in India, WWOOFers from the world over can now choose to

volunteer with any of the 217 farms (spread across 16 states) that are listed with the organisation.

These farms include tea and coffee estates, spice estates, fruit orchards, and vegan agricultural communities.

While most farms are certified organic, WWOOF India also welcomes small farmers, who cannot afford the process of certification.

Host selection is done after an interview with the farmer about the organic practices implemented on the farm. Farms have to pay a fee of Rs 500 to be listed as hosts on the WWOOF India network. However, small and marginal farms (below five acres) are exempted from this fee. Volunteers pay an annual fee to the WWOOF organisation of a country (in India, it’s $25 for foreign citizens and Rs 1,125 for Indians) for a subscription that comes with a booklet with a list of organic farms volunteers can choose from.

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live and learn On Organic Farms While yOu Travel

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“This arrangement is beneficial to both hosts and volunteers. The volunteers can work anywhere. They can also choose the kind of work they would like to do and the duration of it.

The farmers, on the other hand, get help tending their farms, composting, running the machines, and so on,” says Tewari, adding that WWOOF India focuses on sustainable livelihoods, promoting cultural understanding and community mobilisation around organic farming activities.

Some volunteers with WWOOF India donate street lights, pumps and benches to the villages where they go to stay, while others help with the maintenance work for hosts with eco-resorts and farms.

Some have even helped in selling their hosts’ organic products while others have volunteered to teach English at the village schools.

Even as WWOOFing has become a popular way for discerning travellers to see countries, its core aim remains generating an understanding of sustainable agricultural practices.

Towards this aim, WWOOF India has set up four WWOOF Global Villages (WGV) in India that are research centres on organic farming and climate change adaptability. The first WGV is in the village of Surajpura, near the world famous Khajuraho temples of Madhya Pradesh.

By 2020, WWOOF plans to expand its organic farming operations to 25,000 acres by including 1000 organic farms that would place more than 5000 volunteers and 200 interns in various projects.

By bringing together hosts and volunteers, WWOOF has been

building bridges between cultures where people learn about more sustainable ways of living from each other and make a healthier world. It gives volunteers firsthand experience of ecologically sound growing methods, life in the countryside, and a chance to meet, talk, learn and exchange views with like-minded people.

As a regular WWOOFer says, “For a city-dweller, working on land helps you get ‘closer to your plate’ and understand what goes into the food you eat everyday. It’s an enriching experience.”

www.wwoofindia.org

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ayanad, a tourist paradise, is home to a large number of adivasis or indigenous

tribal people. The adivasis have lived in these hills for at least the last 300 years. But over the years, greedy landlords in the area have often subjugated them and used them as bonded labour. They were even sold as labourers to tea plantations. When this exploitation came to the notice of the government, a rescue operation was started and the tribal people liberated. The authorities were farsighted enough to conceive of a livelihood opportunity for these people.

Priyadarshini Tea Estate, eponymous of the then Prime Minister (1980s), was founded as a co-operative to rehabilitate the indigenous tribes by giving them shelter and employment. Set up with the purpose of supporting the

adivasis, Priyadarshini was never about profits. The tribal people found a safe haven as workers of the tea plantation. Elected tribal people were part of the estate’s board to empower them in participative governance. But, the initial welfare momentum did not last long. Corruption and mismanagement plagued Priyadarshini. The estate saw several strikes and lockouts for prolonged periods, and once again misery befell the lives of the tribal people. With no work and no income, the worker families started going hungry. They resorted to tobacco chewing, not as much for intoxication as for suppressing hunger. As late as 2005/06, people were dying due to starvation and there were suicides too. This humanitarian crisis sent chills down the spine of Keralites.

The government intervened again. A new IAS officer, Prasanth

Nair, fresh from his IAS training, took charge as Managing Director, Priyadarshini Tea Estate, in 2009.

The young officer was determined to do his best to change the lives of the tribal workers for the better. He dug out details about the history of the estate, the accounts and other minute details to understand the problems plaguing Priyadarshini. Of the many complex issues he unearthed, there was a particular one that caught his eye—the medical reimbursement expenses of the estate were extremely high. “People were falling sick rampantly and most of them suffered from malnutrition. It was food that was at the core of the problem. I realized that the workers were toiling at the plantation, morning till evening, without getting proper food to eat,” says Prasanth Nair.Nair wanted to make nutritious food available to the workers.

susTainable TOurism in a Tea esTaTe bungalOW saved indigenOus Tribes FrOm sTarvaTiOn

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But there was no budget for it nor could he expect the workers to pay for it. Food had to be provided free of cost. He scoured for ideas and his eureka moment came when he hit upon the idea of connecting tribal well-being with tourism.

Wayand is a charming hill station on the Western Ghats and there was a huge demand for accommodation facilities for tourists. There is a bungalow on the Priyadarshini estate, which was built for its Managing Director. But neither Nair nor his predecessor had ever used the bungalow since they had their sub-collector’s residence. Essentially, the bungalow was unused. “Why not convert this building into a tourist resort?” was Nair’s game changing idea.

He proposed this to the administrative officers of Priyadarshini and they were thrilled. Together, they decided to make Priyadarshini a tea plantation resort, christening the resort ‘Wayand County’. The bungalow had just four rooms, but the building and the 400 acre tea estate carried their own unmatched charm.

The team readied the bungalow and the estate to host tourists. A few tribal youngsters were trained to become guides. Some were even sent far down the hills to learn to become chefs.

A trekking route was mapped out and an enchanting viewpoint identified. They called the viewpoint ‘Vishwas’, as a symbol of belief and hope for the people. Slowly, tourists started coming in and Wayanad County became a much sought-after resort.

The success of the resort was more about the tribal people than of tourism. Nair and his team had

decided on and even formulated a policy at Priyadarshini that all the money from Wayanad County would be used to provide meals for the workers. Initially, the food was the simple traditional kanji and payar gruel and green gram, but the change was tremendous.

Malnutrition and illnesses dropped within just three months, and so did Priyadarshini’s expenditure on medical reimbursements.

“Linking tourism to tribal welfare was not easy. It was even seen with suspicion by many. We did the impossible by linking it with daily food which everyone could easily relate to. The workers did not have to worry about hunger anymore. Their faces gleamed and their sense of relief was palpable. What food can do, probably nothing else can,” says Nair. The then Secretary of the estate, Babu Rajendran, says “Providing food for the workers has been the most satisfying work I have ever done in my career. I saw the transformation that the people went through from starvation and malnutrition to having a satisfying meal every day.”

To everyone’s delight, the tea production at Priyadarshini too peaked during this time. From annual tea production of 6 lakh kilos, the numbers surged to 14 lakh kilos. Never before had Priyadarshini seen such high output levels.

Prasanth Nair and his team also built new houses for the workers, getting rid of the earlier dilapidated shelters. Bank accounts were opened for every worker. Wayanad Tea County added more rooms and brought in more tourists throughout the year. On the whole, there was good food, good homes and

happy hearts in Priyadarshini. And then, it was time for Prasanth Nair to leave.

Prasanth Nair was there only for two years but his work changed the course of Priyadarshini’s destiny. One old tribal woman poignantly asked him, “Will they stop our food if you leave?” Thankfully no, Priyadarshini continues to provide free meals for its 300 workers. The new Sub-Collector, Sambasiva Rao IAS, is now leading a new wave of change in Priyadarshini. The Priyadarshini Tea Factory, which had shut down many years ago, has started functioning again. Efforts are under way to help the next generation of the tribal community find more lucrative jobs than what the estate can provide. Plans are also ongoing to add newer revenue areas like adventure tourism.

“So if you plan a trip to Wayanad, you might want to consider staying at Wayanad County. What you spend as a tourist will feed over 300 people,” says Prasanth Nair, who deeply cherishes his tenure at Priydarshini Tea Estate.

Nair carried forward his experience at Priyadarshini to Kozhikode where he now serves as the district collector, and initiated Operation Sulaimani, a much appreciated free meal coupon scheme that ensures no one goes hungry in the city.

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agru is known for natural dyes and hand block printing. Bagru is the place of Raiger and

Chhipa community (Rajasthan, Western India). Chhipa community people who are involved in this printing tradition since 100 years ago and also Raiger community people are involved in processing and manufacturing of leather and their products (like boots, mochdi, Rajasthani jhutee and other leather goods). The Raiger community export raw leather (semi processed) to big leather companies and also sell in local market (Hatwara, Jaipur).

Bagru is also known for Natural dyeing, Indigo Dyeing and Wooden hand Block Printing over textile articles. Bagru is a small village, located at a distance of 30 km from Jaipur, on Jaipur-Ajmer Road.

The village town of Bagru is not popular for any palace or fort, but for its typical wooden prints. These prints of Bagru are acclaimed all over India and are particularly known as Bagru prints. The prints

of Bagru, unlike other prints, involve a different kind of printing. The unique method for printing employs wooden block in it. In the process, the desired design is engraved on the wooden block first and then the carved block is used for replicating the design in the preferred color on the fabric. Chippa Mohalla (printer’s quarter) is the area for those who are interested in textile printing. One can walk into the quarter, where people are always engrossed with dyes and blocks.

The three-centuries-old tradition of block printing is kept alive with the efforts of Bagru artisans. Keeping the convention, these artisans smear the cloth with Fuller’s earth procured from the riverside and then dip it in turmeric water to get the habitual cream color background. After that, they stamp the cloth with beautiful designs using natural dyes of earthly shades.

As a matter of fact, Bagru prints are more famous for their exceptional quality of being eco-friendly. Even today, artisans

use traditional vegetable dyes for printing the cloth. Like, the color blue is made from indigo, greens out of indigo mixed with pomegranate, red from madder root and yellow from turmeric. Usually Bagru prints have ethnic floral patterns in natural colors. Bagru prints form the essential part of the block printing industry of Rajasthan. The village fabricates some of the fabulous bed covers and other materials.

The brilliance of the craft has located this small village of Bagru near Jaipur on the map of International fashion. Rajasthan block printing recognition gets complete, with the amalgamation of Bagru printing in it. The village of Bagru will be definitely a treat for craft lovers and one must visit the place to acknowledge the tradition of former centuries. Bagru prints have already marked their name in the fashion industry. For those who are crazy about textile printing or wooden or block printing, this craft centre is one which is worth exploring.

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blOck prinTing in bagru—ancienT TradiTiOns OF prinTing sTill kepT alive!

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alap is a small village with a population of around 500 people, located 200 kms from

Dehradun (Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, North India) in the Tons river valley.

The nearest road is an 11 km trek away, in Netwar. It takes about five hours of trekking in winters and about eight hours in summers to reach Kalap from Netwar. Lack of connectivity meant that the village lacked electricity, education and basic medical facilities until 2013 when Anand Sankar decided to adopt it and change the lives of the people for the better. Anand Sankar, the founder of the Kalap Trust —the man who brought social inclusiveness to the otherwise forgotten village and its people.

Visiting Kalap is like stepping back in time—with traditional wooden houses, cattle and sheep in every household, and smoke

curling up above the roof tops. The former photo-journalist, originally from Bengaluru (a metropolitan city in southern state of Karnatka)first visited the village in 2008. The untouched beauty of the place and the simple people struck a chord with him. He ended up making subsequent visits and eventually fell in love with everything there.

But the more he visited Kalap, the more he realized how socially isolated the village was. On one of his trips he met an old woman suffering with high fever. He gave her a paracetamol and when the fever came down, she literally fell at his feet.

He then got to know that no doctor had ever visited Kalap, realizing that the many things taken for granted by city dwellers, are hard to come by in Kalap. He arranged for visiting doctors and set up the first ever health camp

in Kalap in 2014. It was disturbing to know that many villagers were diagnosed with tuberculosis during the health camp.

That’s when Anand decided to do something more long term to improve the lives of people there. He set up the Kalap Trust in September 2014. And a lot has changed for good since then. A free clinic has been set up to deal with two chronic health issues affecting most people there– tuberculosis and nutritional disorders. The clinic’s focus is on the vulnerable population – children, pregnant women and the elderly.

A doctor, Dr. Nandana Acharjee, MBBS, has been appointed full time on a salary by the Trust. She has also trained two local women as her assistants who help her run the clinic. Apart from treatment, even preventive measures like spreading awareness about

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susTainable living and TOurism implemenTed by One man TO imprOve lives

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hygiene, cleanliness, nutrition, etc. are provided to the villagers. The doctor also travels once a month to the nearby villages to conduct checkups and health camps.

The Trust has installed specialized equipment at the clinic, The Trust dispenses medicines free of cost, which has been a boon to the villagers, since monetary transactions are minimal in Kalap where the barter system is still prevalent.

The second most important project taken up by the Kalap Trust is education. The only barely running government school was totally neglected bereft of teachers. The Trust set up a Montessori-cum-primary ‘after school’ in the village.

The purpose of this initiative is to assess the gaps in government education system and fill them. The school runs every day after regular school hours and full-time on holidays and during vacations. One of the most important things it imparts is English language training, which prepares the children to adjust easily to an English medium school later in their academic life. Another emphasis is on nature interpretation, outdoor experiential education, basic science and math education.

There are English classes for adults in the late evening.The school, like the clinic, is entirely crowdfunded! To know more about how to sponsor the school, you can send an email to getintouch@kalaptrust.org. The lack of electrification in Kalap is a serious infrastructure challenge. Though the village is connected to the power grid, the power line is too weak to serve the community’s needs. For months together, the line remains non-functional due the terrain and harsh weather

conditions. To solve this energy crisis, Kalap Trust has partnered with M/s E-Hands Energy Private Limited with a long term MoU to deploy a renewable energy mini-grid for the village.

Since the village’s geographical orientation is south-facing, it is greatly conducive for solar projects because it enjoys the maximum amount of sunlight time at any given time in the year. Added to this is its location at the height of 7,800 feet above sea level, where sunlight is strong with few days of total cloud cover. The solar grid project is structured in the form of a Village Electricity Company (VEC) called ‘M/s Kalap Solar Power’, which is entirely owned and run by two local youth from the village. The villagers pay for the electricity consumed. A long tenure soft loan was taken to finance the mini-grid and the loan is repaid from the monthly payments collected from the homes that avail of this service.

Currently, 23 homes have been electrified since June 30, 2105 by ‘M/s Kalap Solar Power’ which operates a 1 kW grid.

Charging of mobile phones has enabled access to information from across the world thus ending the social isolation of the village. As travellers it was a relief to charge our phones and camera batteries in the home-stay.

Being nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas, Kalap has many trekking and hiking routes offering splendid views of the mountains. These routes pass through quaint villages, virgin forests, gurgling mountain streams and alpine meadows. Anand has started a community tourism programme, which generates gainful employment for the local people. Local men and women have been trained as mountain guides

and perform other activities on a campsite like cooking, taking care of guests, etc. Rooms in village homes are used as homestays. This project began in June 2013 and has been running successfully. Visitors get to experience the local culture, interact with the village people, sample local cuisine and explore the beautiful surroundings.

There are itineraries designed to suit different people: http://www.kalap.in/

Another important project taken up by Anand is to spread awareness about the importance of sanitation. The village people perform their morning ablutions out in the open just outside the village. Not only does that spread diseases but also ruins the beauty of the place. He has been encouraging people to construct toilets. In 2013, there were just two toilets in the village of 100 homes. Today, there are 25 toilets.

Using sustainable tourism, Kalap’s projects can benefit more and directly contribute to more initiatives in the village.

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nil is a PhD scholar in tourism. He came out with a very enterprising idea to involve

communities in the Buddhist nations to start a community based festival of plantation—the Roaming Buddha Plantation Festival.

Anil works in close conjunction with local governments and gets a piece of land allocated.

Then he moves in the villages and mobilizes communities to join hands and come together once a year for a mega plantation festival.

The villagers are then encouraged to adopt each sapling giving it their family name. This way it leads to care and sustainance of the tree.

Already successfully launched festivals are running across several

states (provinces) in India. Assam being the first.

In the recently concluded International Buddhist Conclave - 2016 on 6 October at Venu Van, Rajgir, Bihar, 39 Countries participated in the Plantation Festival (1000 saplings each) including India and planted Buddha belly bamboo saplings in the Bamboo Grove / Venu Van where Buddha himself lived for 14 years. Countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, etc. participated

Anil is always on the move, lending ideas to several government departments and forest officials on sustainable tourism, afforestation projects.

He mostly works alone with no office support. “I spend most of my time in trains or buses travelling from one place to the other” he says gleefully.

Very soon he is keen on integrating community based tourism with his festivals.

Anil is looking to provide full assistance to other countries to join in to organise a similar festival annually during the rainy season.

cOmmuniTy acTiOn TO revive 200 acres OF deFOresTed land

rOaming buddha planTaTiOn FesTival

unique understanding of historical, cultural and causal points ensure that voluntary

action by citizens lasts longer than government initiatives.

One such example is a Grow-Trees’ project at the periphery of the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar, Rajasthan.

The areas adjoining the forest are largely undeveloped and inhabitated by tribal communities like Bhil, Meena and Gujjar.

These areas, known as ‘Orans’ or ‘Devbani’ in local parlance, are spread over 100 thousand hectare of land in Rajasthan. These lands are managed and maintained by local communities.

Communities in Alwar recognise the Orans as a source of water,

food, fodder, fuel and medicines. They are the only surviving area of mature woodland in otherwise bare surroundings and provide refuge for wildlife.Slow deforestation over the years, however, have left the Orans a shadow of their former, lush selves.

Several factors have contributed to the deforestation and degradation of the Orans.

Years ago, saints and learned men used medicinal plants and herbs to treat the sick. This ensured that these plants were planted in abundance and were well-maintained.

However, changing lifestyles and changing medicinal practices in rural areas have resulted in a sharp decline in the number of these medicinal trees. The situation

has further been exacerbated by the lack of rainfall in the area.

Rainfall is crucial for the grass to grow and for the water table to replenish itself. Lack of rainfall has, therefore, transformed the nature of soil from semi-arid to arid in the last few years.

KRAPAVIS, a NGO headed by biologist Aman Singh, stepped forward to take on the revival of the Orans. In two decades, the organisation has done commendable work that has been recognised internationally.

Grow-Trees tied up with KRAPAVIS in the year 2011.

The two organisations have since planted more than 20 million trees in the Orans....

Why Roaming Buddha Festival?1. reason 1 : Gautama, The Buddha’s Life is full of Trees and Nature:

• Birth is under in sal tree (Shorea robusta) in Lumbini Garden.

• Enlightenment is under the sacred fig tree (Ficus religiosa).

• First sermon is in Mrigadava / Deer Park, Sarnath.

• Attained parinirvana under sal tree (Shorea robusta).

• Spent his life in Gardens / Nature with his disciples.

reason 2 : Gifts Heartily Accepted by Buddha - Gardens/ Vana..!! Buddha whole heartily used to accept the Gardens as the most preferred gift from his disciples. He used to reside in them with his disciples. During his life, he accepted three gardens and resided in them. There after many kings offered Gardens / Aaramas for Buddhism.

• Venu Van, Rajgir is one of such park offered to Buddha by Raja Bimbisara. Here he stayed for 5 vassas—14 years.

• Jetavana Anathapindika’s Garden, Savatthi—accepted from Anathapindika & Spent 19 vassas.

• Ambavana, Vaishali— accepted from Ambapali. The best way to please Buddha is not to offer him riches but plantation, offer him Vana / gardens by not ignoring any rainy season.

reason 3 : Vanaropan Sutta (Tripitaka)

Buddha said : They who plant orchards and gardens, who plant groves are those whom merit grows day by day and by night. They are the people that are established in the Dhamma.

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anil kumar gade

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ive years ago, when Isam Wani and his brothers Yasub and Minam introduced the European

concept of glamour camping around the nestled mountains of Sonamarg, it was something unwelcome as people did not understand its importance.

But as 2016 marks its sixth year, the three brothers have been successful in giving a push to the struggling ecotourism in the Valley.

“We used to travel in winter months to different European and Arab countries and brought this idea from there. Initially, it was challenging as people did not understand its importance. It is going very well now,” says Isam Wani (28), the owner of Ahsan Mount Resorts in Sonamarg, (http://www.ahsanmountresort.com/) which is a small tented colony overlooking the beautiful river Sindh. The multi-layer insulated tents carry a perfect setting for an adventure traveller.

One can get the view of snow-capped mountains and pine trees which are aligned as if in a queue while just lying in the bed.

The continuous breeze and humming of bees make the use of an air-conditioner irrelevant in summer.

The resort and its modified insulated safari tents is the first-of-its-kind eco-resort in Kashmir located at Sonamarg. As the concept of luxurious tents got widely accepted by tourists visiting the Valley, many young people are finding the opportunity useful for investment.

“The resort carefully combines luxury accommodation with environmentally conscious practices without sacrificing comfort or convenience. The idea was to give a boost to tourism in the Valley. We were the first to start, but many people have joined in now to take forward the same thing,” says Isam, who is a MBA from the University of Kashmir.

Nestled in the midst of pine trees and green crystal waters of the Sindh, the place is perfect to relax in a landscape with panoramic views of mountains and glaciers.

“The camp is an ideal getaway for outdoor enthusiasts, families, couples and those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and reconnect with nature. All our luxury tents are equipped with modern amenities, providing the perfect setting from which to watch the glorious scenic beauty of Sonamarg,” says Isam, who is planning to extend his business to the famous destinations of Gulmarg and Pahalgam.

The concept has been praised by visitors, from top industrialists of the country to bigwigs of Bollywood. People have loved to prefer to stay in the luxurious tent than a seven-star hotel.

yOung minds give bOOsT TO ecOTOurism in valley

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Faziranga National Park (North Eastern state of India, Assam) is a UNESCO World Heritage

site and home to more than two-thirds of the world’s rhino population.

Unfortunately, the devastating floods caused by heavy rains in Assam during July and August had a huge unforeseen impact on the animals living in the national park.

At least 250 animals perished in the floods, including 20 rhinos.

However, there are some people working with dedication towards

the conservation of animals in Kaziranga. The Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) was established in 2002 by the Wildlife Trust of India in Kaziranga to attend to a range of wildlife-related emergencies.

Located in Bojuri village, next to the Kaziranga National Park, CWRC aims to stabilise displaced animals and provide them with expert medical attention.

After the treatment, they work on releasing the displaced animals back into the wild, as close to the site from where they were rescued.

Four Mobile Veterinary Services were deployed by the CWRC in July and August to run round-the-clock rescue efforts and provide aid to stranded, displaced or distressed animals in parts of the Park that had been completely inundated by the floods.

Kaziranga National Park is bordered by the Brahmaputra

river on the north. Whenever the river overflows, the plains get flooded and cause a large-scale displacement of the animals. The animals have no place to seek refuge because the man-made highlands get washed away during heavy flooding. If the animals want to head out of the sanctuary in order to save their lives, they become victims of road accidents due to vehicles that speed past along NH 37.

But the large influx of animals being admitted to the nurseries for rehabilitation purposes has led to the shelters overflowing and resources being stretched to their limits.

CWRC needs your help because they are in desperate need of funds to support their animal rescue program. http://wti.org.in/ProjectsDetails.aspx?ProjId=55

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The OrganisaTiOn ThaT WOrked TO rescue FlOOd aFFecTed animals

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SUSTAINABLE ToUrS

EAST INDIASOUTH INDIA

wELLNESS CIRCUIT IN GUJARAT

TOURISM TO ENCOURAGE CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED TURTLES

Participate in the Olive Riddley Turtles conservation program. If you are not able to, take a look at the Kindness Farm (over thousands of animals are rescued and rehabilitated)...

State: Andhra Pradesh

VISIT REMOTE VILLAGES IN THE

HIMALAYAN RANGE, SET UP SOLAR

PANELS, UPGRADE SCHOOLS AND

MORE...

The GHE expedition team has

created a tangible impact in the

lives of people in Ladakh. From

running a school with all modern

amenities, to generating self

sufficiency in electricy with solar

panels...

State: Jammu & Kashmir

LEARN ANCIENT ART OF wEAVING

AND MEET THE ARTISANS...

Avani works with over 1,100 artisans in 101 villages of two districts. What starts as a training process becomes the way of life for the people who end up being closely associated with Avani.

State: Uttarakhand

CHAMbAL SAFARI

The Chambal Safari is an attempt to acquaint visitors with a land that has retained its unique landscapes, rugged charm and rare wildlife.

State: Uttar Pradesh

JAIPUR RUGS: A GARGANTUAN FEAT OF LOGISTICAL FINESSE

Jaipur Rugs Company launched a simple business model, cut out the exploitative middlemen who paid so little for the weavers’ rugs and thereby give the weavers a greater share of rug industry earnings.

State: Rajasthan

PAbU KI DHANI

The eco village comprises some dried mud huts made by local techniques which can accommodate travelers looking for authentic experiences. Travelers find themselves involved in the daily lives of this community called Bhil, descendants of the people of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan.

State: Rajasthan

CULTURE AANGAN HOMESTAYS

Culture Aangan is a social enterprise dedicated to promoting sustainable rural tourism and supporting grass root development projects. Their focus is on both conserving and celebrating cultural traditions, to help stem the migration to the cities. They bring traditional Indian culture to travelers, so that they can experience rural India, off the beaten track but with homely comforts.

State: Maharashtra, Rajasthan

CHHOTARAM PRAJAPAT’S HOMESTAY

Established in 2009, Chhotaram Prajapat’s Homestay holds the reputation of being one of the first Homestay near Jodhpur. Prajapatis are the weaver class. The home stay is located on the outskirts of Jodhpur in the village Salawas which is just 20 kms from city centre.

State: Rajasthan

ANIMAL AID UNLIMITED (ANIMAL RESCUE FOUNDATION)

Welcome to Animal Aid Unlimited, an animal rescue, sanctuary, and rehabilitation center. You can feed animals, wash them, nurture them with your hands and get very connected to loving people from the West (the founders)...

State: Rajasthan

DEVRA HOSPITALITY (UDAIPUR)A barren land, 2 committed people from principalities of the oldest serving dynasties of the world, Mewar and Marwar with a fervour to take forward the legacy of long history and culture and 22 years of hard work, today, Devra Hospitality is located in a land with plenty of green cover.

State: Rajasthan

NIRVANA ORGANIC FARM

Arvind’s organic farm is nothing short of an oasis. You can help till the land and harvest the crops, look after the cattle, stretch out on a khatiya (cot) to watch birds, take a cooking lesson on an open-air chulha (clay stove), and indulge in delicious farm-grown food.

State: Rajasthan

RESPONSIbLE RURAL TOUR bY CHANDRA NIwAS

For those of you seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and see the “real” Rajasthan, we welcome you to explore the beautiful unspoiled countryside and rural villages surrounding Udaipur.

This tour includes a number of activities and provides a refreshing relief from the hassles and crowds of the city, while enabling you to learn about traditional village life and culture.

State: Rajasthan

SHILPGRAM - THE CRAFT VILLAGE

Situated 3 kms west of Udaipur near the Havala village is Shilpgram - the Rural Arts and Crafts Complex.

State: Rajasthan

THE GREEN PATH ECO RESORT

A man with a fiery vision, to bring radical changes in the quality of food we eat, our lifestyle and our thinking!

Meet Mr. Jayaram, the simple farmer as he calls himself, who is singlehandedly responsible for this change!

State: Karnataka

bANGLANATAK DOT COM

Bangla Natak.com is a social enterprise that was incepted with the vision to utilize underlying potential of intangible cultural heritage of Indians providing livelihood oppourtunities to rural and tribal communities rich in oral traditions, performing arts, traditional craftsmanship, but lacking formal education.

State: west bengal

SUSTAINAbLE TOURISM USING DESERT NATIONAL PARK

To promote tourism and eco-tourism in Jaisalmer, eco-tourism has been started, which will increase tourist flow and villages associated with the DNP will also be developed. Apart from this, youth will get employment and there will be an atmosphere of friendship.

State: Rajasthan

THE MOUNTAIN SHEPHERDS INITIATIVE

A community-owned and operated ecotourism company that grew out of the famous Nanda Devi Campaign for cultural survival and sustainable livelihoods.

State: Uttarakhand

THIS YOUNG TEAM IS ENAbLING TOURISTS TO TURN INTO CHANGE MAKERS IN THE HIMALAYASAvail an opportunity to meet the villagers and work for community good with these young group of travel enthusiasts...State: Himachal Pradesh

HIMALAYAN ADVENTURE SPORTS & TOURISM PROMOTION ASSOCIATION (HASTPA)Get on to adventurous biking tour that creates a positive impact not only on the environment but also on the lives of villagers in the Himalayas with HASTPA.

State: Himachal Pradesh

NORTH INDIA

wEST INDIA

wEST INDIA

NATUROPATHY CENTRES IN GUJARAT

• Bajaj Nature Cure Hospital

• Mission Health

• Navjivan Nature Cure Centre

• Nimba Nature Cure Village

• Nisargopachar Kendra

• Ratanveer Nature Cure

• Sarva Mangal Arogyadhan

• Shankus Natural Health Centre

• Shivashram Natural Health Centre

• Swas Naturopathy

• V.A.M. Nature Cure Hospital

• Vaatrika Lotuspond NaturopathyGoogle map has been used. Please note that this list is not the complete list. For more details please contact info@gujarattourism.com

Responsibly & Sustainably

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Over a thousand species are facing extinction, many art forms/folklore are languishing, age old practices and traditions that need preservation and encouragement are now being looked at as “old fashion”. To keep sustenance, preservation and conservation, a lot of efforts are required. Most of these efforts go unnoticed, they don’t get the deserved attention or financial support. And many such projects close down over a period of time.

Travel Responsibly & Sustainably is a consortium that maps such projects from developing nations, creates integrated circuits, promotes them using various avenues of sales and marketing. We hope that with tourists’ visits to such projects, will enable them to a better understanding of such projects and create more avenues for revenue generation for those working at the grass root level.

We also are sensitizing potential travelers, specially, well placed business executives to reach out to such projects by way of roadshows and personalized mails.

We also look forward to your suggestions and comments/feedback. We invite your articles, expert opinions. We have a section specially reserved for Industry Leaders. Our email address is editor@travelresponsibly.info

Some of the stories that have been encapsulated earlier, are available in the CD accompanying this booklet and also in our website, www.travelresponsibly.info

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