THE INDIAN STORIESResponsibly & Sustainably

Sustainability in the heart of the Indian SubcontinentDeep in the heart of the verdant Cumbum valley, South India, lies a jewel that’s a cut above the rest, Harvest Fresh Farms. Standing out not only by the fact that it is an organic farm set in a lush valley flanked by mountains that kiss the clouds but also that it pays back to universe in more ways than one. Cumbum Valley is also one of the greenest, most fertile areas of the Indian Subcontinent and famous for its high yield of crops; vegetables, fruit & vineyards. The farm has pomegranates as its principle harvest. Papaya, grapes, tender coconut, coconut, passion fruit, and honey are its other produce.

Strictly adhering to certified organic farming practices, the farm also practices several traditional organic methods handed down the generations of the family that owns it. Utilising manure from cows to composting, mulching, and recycling, the farms is 100% organic is every respect, as is evident by the multifarious varieties of butterflies and other creatures that live on the farm.

Harvest Fresh Farms supports the local communities by employing them in various activities on the farms and in their farm tourism verticals too. Local women are

hired as cooks, dishing out the most delicious traditional fare made with either freshly picked produce from the farm or locally sourced from a nearby farmers market.

The villagers n e a r b y areengaged in entertaining the guests in a Village

Walk, where guests to the farm can meander through the village, visit the local temple, watch the ebb & flow of life in the village as villagers go about their day to day life. The farmers market is given a helping hand when the farm purchases produce for its in-house consumption and when the guests at the farm stay wish to purchase local produce.

A stay at the farm is soul cleansing experience. Wake up to bird call & take a walk through the farm to one of the watch towers from which you have commanding 360˚ views of the valley. Take in the mists that cap the mountain tops and the distant waterfalls that resemble streaks of milk cascading down the several slopes. Watch the early birds catch their worms (being an organic farm there are plenty in sight), and having worked up an appetite, feast on a breakfast fit for a king. The menu consists of local South Indian fare and freshly picked fruit from in & around the farm. A variety of fruit juices depending on the current harvest in progress are a delight to the senses. Being close to the tea growing slopes of Kumily ensures the best tea and freshly ground & brewed coffee too.Spend the morning lounging on one the hammocks under the trees or reading atop one of the watch towers and come down to feast on a sumptuous lunch of local cuisine prepared by the village women.

After an afternoon siesta, sip on freshly brewed tea & traditional snacks before heading out to a farmers market to watch the daily auction of vegetables & other produce that are then loaded onto trucks headed to markets in other states.

Head back to the farm for a barbecue dinner accompanied with Indian breads, fresh green salads, curries and of course, a desert of farm fresh fruit. Tuck into bed and be lulled to sleep by the calming sounds of the valley.

Harvest Fresh Farms also hosts Day Trippers who are interested in learning the ropes of organic farming. Day Trips begin with a hearty welcome and tender coconut water served in its husk, a guided tour of the organic farming techniques and end with a sumptuous meal.

Harvest Fresh Farms leaves its indelible mark on the local community and the planet at large by its stringent values systems of sustainability, both of the land and the people. Practicing astute organic farming methods, employing local communities on the farm, outsourcing several processes to the local communities as well as involving them in the farm’s hospitality vertical by engaging the farmers bullock carts to village walks, tours of the village etc. Harvest Fresh Farms continues to give back to the universe. For further details contact: info@harvestfresh.in

hen most kids in school were busy catching kites,

Sanjeev Gohil loved recu-ing snakes. He would rescue snakes and other wild animals and hand them over to for-est department to safely release them in the wild again.

Of course the family was worried and did not appreciate Gohil’s risky passion, but he was not one to take an ordinary course.

“I was always passionate about wildlife and nature. My school was surrounded by forests, and I would bunk my Maths classes to see various animals and rescue nearby lost snakes and other wild ani-mals,” he says.

What makes Gohil’s story unique and all the more inspiring is Stargardt – a rare disease that causes progressive vision loss, usually to the point of legal blindness. “I was born with perfect vision. But gradually I developed vision complications. Today, though I am unable to see, I don’t take it as a challenge. It has not affected my life much,” Gohil says.

Loss Of Vision Did Not Stop Him From Rescuing Snakes And Climbing Rocks

W

Read the whole story in the CD

Gohil had to discontinue his graduation mid-way due to

low vision, but he did not let it stop him from following what he

enjoyed the most. He continued going on some of the riskiest treks

in India, successfully finished several rock climbing trips and rescued some of the most dangerous wildest animals

like lions, leopards and crocodiles even at the odd hours.

When we asked him how he managed to do all of this with such low vision,

he had a simple answer, “It is my pas-sion. Also I have been working in this field for around 20 years now. Though I cannot see the rocks, but I can touch and feel them to get a grip. Slowly, and with prac-tice, I have gained expertise in this field,” he says.

Three years ago, he went for rock climbing ...

Sanjeev Gohil started losing his vision 12 years ago. But this did not stop him from climbing rocks or arescuing snakes and even leopards! Here is all you need to know about the inspiring wildlife activist and adventure junkie.

Source: betterindia.com

With meagre income to support his family from selling milk of his buffalo and cow, Molai is unperturbed about his own comforts and continues to work determinedly to make a difference.

Locals call this as “Molai Kathni” in the local Assamese language which means Molai’s forest. There are several thousand trees, including valcol, arjun (Terminalia arjuna), ejar (Lagerstroemia speciosa), goldmohur (Delonix regia), koroi (Albizia procera), moj (Archidendron bigeminum) and himolu (Bombax ceiba).

Molai forest was featured in a 2013 documentary Foresting life, directed by the Indian documentary filmmaker Aarti Shrivastava.

adav Payeng turned a bar-ren sandbar in North East India (Assam) into a lush new forest ecosystem.

In, 1979, massive floods eroded the land and caused widespread damage. A 16 year old then, Mr Jadav Payeng Molai, watched in horror as some of the most endangered species of life, getting washed up and dying due to no habitation and excessive heat.

Time and again, his requests to the forest department to habitat the environment got him no results. As most of the forest officials believe that virtually nothing would grow in the dry sandbar. Disappointed with their indifference, he came up with a decision to single handedly grow bamboo trees so that some habitation would revive and give shelter to some animals.

This journey meant giving up his comfort zone, his village, his education, his career dreams, his family and stay on in the barren area till afforestation became a possibility.

Initially the quality of the soil was not befitting for any afforestation efforts, he took soil from his village and even the ants, specially the red ants to make the soil conducive to grow trees.

His efforts finally paid off. Thousands of trees, animals ranging from the rhinoceros, tigers to the other inhabitants: rabbits, wild boars, apes, thousands of birds and hundreds of elephants.

A very humble and unassuming person, Molai continues to live in the forest with his family, wife and three children. He is eager to work more by planting more trees, and working more in the other parched forest areas.

1,360 acres of forest…every single tree planted and nurtured by one individual…

Man Who Created Forest in Assam

J

A man from India started planting trees when he was 16 years old. He is now 47 and lives in his own forest with rhinos, tiger and elephants.

Call Us +91-361-2547102

E-mail ID :directortourism1@gmail.com www.assamtourism.gov.in

Welcome to the Bell Metal Capital of India

Meet Gunaram Khanikar, popularly known as Charak of Assam is a well-known herbalist from Golaghat district in upper Assam, author of several books on herbal medicine

With people's belief in modern allotropic medicine declining due to reasons like high prices and side effects, free counseling on the advantages of herbal medicines over allopathic drugs has made him a very sought after herbal specialist.

AssamAssam

Homestay Majuli Mishing tribes

.Meet the artisans.See them work.Learn the Art

Bell Metal Capital is Sualkuchi in the Kamrup District of Assam. It has about 300 hundred families which are

engaged the production of traditional Bell metal articles full filling the requirement of Assamese community. The utensils

made from Bell metal are social necessity for all functions of the Assamese people.

Welcome to Maharashtra. Travelling through the width and breadth of Maharashtra to discover the life-style of its people, their customs and traditions, something different from traditional concept of tourism, an experience a tourist should cherish and long for. Thus came the idea – Mahabhraman.

Some of the enterprising farmers and groups as well as NGOs are experimenting on novel and unique concepts of tourism highlighting the multifaceted character of Maharashtra showcasing farmers’ life-style challenging rock-faces of Sahyadri, whistling winds of forests, roaring mighty rivers, mysterious yet colourful life under the sea, the arts, crafts, fairs and festivals. All these contribute to this unique experience that is Maharashtra

To bring such farmers, small entrepreneurs and NGOs together and to give them one platform having backing of the State Govt. gave birth to this idea / concept called Mahabhraman. Through Mahabhraman the Govt. wants to acknowledge the efforts of the various players and such service providers and would work for their marketing and publicity to strengthen and popularize these products

Deep Utsav Mumbai

Costal Sindhudurg Agri Tourism MaharashtraTiger Trails

Packages of MahabhramanAgri TourismEcomantraKonkan TourMTDCMumbai MagicNature Trails

Nisarg ViharTiger TrailsRustic Holidays Summer CampGandhi TirthThe Ark Wellness Center

Read the whole story in the CD

up drive in Kasaul and when other tourists and local associations saw us doing so, they joined in too,” says Sharma.

The core team of five which includes various responsible travel enthusiasts, organizes an annual meet up where all the members associated with DoW gather together to talk and plan a visit to one of the villages.Sharma makes 5-6 trips every year to such villages where he is mostly accompanied by his family, friends and members of the core team.

The biggest challenges are the extreme climatic conditions. From being stuck in a remote village for 5-6 days due to heavy snow fall, to lack of proper accommodation, Sharma and his team have seen it all.

“Once we had made an off season trip to Spiti Valley and everything was shut down. But, a guy who owned a small place opened his hotel just for the two of us. It was overwhelming to see how much these locals value us,” says Sharma.

Sharma and his team now want to create a database of these communities so that people can directly connect with them. “Many people visit these places and there is some extra ordinary talent, but because there is no connectivity with the outer world, these people are unable to reach out to those who can help them,” says Sharma.

They also want to expand their initiative and cover the entire belt of Himalayas including Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand.

“We are not an NGO. Our main goal is to promote responsible tourism as much as possible and connect the local community with other people so that they can get more livelihood options,” says Sharma.

So next time you are travelling, make sure you give back to the local community and help them grow. Want to travel more responsibly? Get in touch with Dheeraj Sharma at, dheeraj@devilonwheels.com

When we plan a trip we make sure that we make the most of it – we shop,

click pictures, explore the “tourist attractions” and come back. How often do we look beyond a regular trip?Do we think of the local community and try to understand how do they manage to live in extreme conditions? With limited livelihood options, extreme climatic conditions and disconnection from the mainstream world, life in the Himalayas is not easy.

It all started four and half years back when Dheeraj Sharma’s regular journey turned into an unforgettable experience, when he saw the poverty and difficulties all around him. “It is really sad to see the people who are so talented living a life like this due to lack of resources and opportunities,” Sharma says. When Sharma travelled and visited the beautiful Himalayas, he realized that the wages of tour guides were very low. They worked for a travel agent who would pay them a lump-sum amount instead of daily wages, and that too once a year.

These guides weren’t able to get their due share. They would get some percent of the total income which would be hardly Rs.50,000. That too they would get at the end of the season. “I wanted to build a system where these people could get direct benefits,” says Sharma.

Hence, he came up with an idea to connect travelers directly to these guides. This way they get their daily wages and earn more.

There are some who visit the Himalayas as tourists and come back. And then there are those who travel, explore and experience everything. Dheeraj Sharma is one such person who decided to change the way the local communities of the Himalayas live.

The more he traveled, the more he got attached to the community and finally, he launched a platform called “Devil on Wheels” to help the locals.

Started as a blog, Devil on Wheels is a platform now which has covered over 17 villages in the Himalayas and helped the local community with its various initiatives.

Apart from connecting the local guides directly to the travelers, DoW also donates medicines and stationery items to various shops and schools in the Himalayan region.

“It is a tourist focused initiative. We ask people if they would like to buy medicines/stationery kits, the upper price cap of which is Rs.500. Then they go and distribute these commodities in the villages where such basic things are unavailable,” says Sharma.

They also organize various clean-up drives where the team and other volunteers go and clean the mountains. “Around 30 people came together and organized a clean

Tourism that Makes a Difference!

Madhya Pradesh is easily the richest state in so far as the diversity and abundance of tourist destinations is concerned. In fact a tourist would do well for himself if he just visits the state, travels all around and in the process experiences India in a better manner and also in a shorter time frame than what he would otherwise need.

And the excellent climate, ease of connectivity and linkages, beautiful landscape, simple populace and generally clean environments are like the icing on the cake. And the manner in which sustainability remains at the top the mind of all those who are in the business

of managing tourism in the state, both in the public and the private sectors is something that would do well with widespread emulation by other destinations.

The tourism corporation also stands out - for its resorts, restaurants, boat clubs, light and sound shows and transport, all of which are comparable to or often better than the best in the private sector. This is indicative of a government that has an intent, a positive intent to develop tourism in the state for the overall benefit of the roving tourist. Yet it also looks forward, in a highly progressive manner towards increasing tourism investment

in the state for it believes in partnerships for attaining inclusive growth.

Madhya Pradesh has been home to the cultural heritage of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam. Innumerable monuments, ex-quisitely carved temples, stupas, forts and palaces are dotted all over the state. The holy cities of Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Maihar, Chitrakoot and Amarkantak attract millions of pilgrims from all over the world.

The grand Kumbha Mela Simhastah, which is held every 12 years in the holy city of Ujjain, is scheduled for 2016. On the occasion

of Kumbh Mela the divinity and spiritual aroma of Ujjain meets its extreme peak when the millions

of devotees take dip and worship sacred River Shipra.

The major attraction of this festival is ‘Shahi Snan’ (royal bath) which takes place on predetermined dates varying every year. It is believed that those who get a royal bath in holy Shipra River on the occasion of Kumbh Mela can wash their sins of all previousbirths. The devotees consider it as an opportunity to get them revived from the never ending birth cycle.

‘Simhastha Kumbh Mela’ in Ujjain is the unique combination of divinity and purity, which is experienced when the crowd of ashdubbedsages, priests, devotees gets fused together with the roaring of elephants and camels. People who witness the spiritual fest feel good fortune by their side and sense positive aroma purifying their souls and thoughts.

The next ‘Simhastha Kumbh Mela’ in Ujjain will be held from 22nd April 2016 to 21st May 2016.

MELTING POT OF RELIGION AND CULTURE!

Ashwani LohaniMD & Commissioner Tourism,

Govt. of Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Paryatan Bhawan, Bhadbhada Road, Bhopal

E-mail: info@mptourism.com, Website: www.mptourism.com

Nature Tourism has come of age in India. Madhya Pradesh is the Tiger state of India.Wildlife tourism is no longer a niche industry. MP holds 20% of India’s Tiger Population; Efforts promoting eco-tourism such as screening of informative short documentary movies on tiger protection how to behave in a national park, ban on cell phones inside the park. Waste management, concentration on approvals only on environment friendly infrastructure, effective garbage disposal methods, tree plantation, and rain water harvesting are some eco-friendly and responsible practices are starting to show results.

Madhya Pradesh was recently rewarded for its Sustainable Nature Tourism Road Map, at the recently concluded Sanctuary TOFTigers Wildlife Tourism Awards 2014. Lodge Naturalist of the Year 2014 David Raju, Forsyth Lodge, Satpura, Madhya Pradesh. He is a researcher and well-published

naturalist in his specialist fields. He is hailed as one of the most enthusiastic and inspirational naturalists in India.

Visitor Friendly Wildlife Destination of the Year 2014Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh – Satpura has set an example in its approach, planning for tourism early in its opening to visitors, working in partnership with tourism owners, seeking alternative activities to the usual game drives, and enabling canoeing, camping safaris and guided walks in some of Central India’s fabulous landscapes.

Wildlife Promotion Company of the Year 2014 Pugdundee Safaris Since its foundation, this wildlife safari has based its ethos on a strong Sustainable Tourism foundation. Together with its five lodge operations in Madhya Pradesh, and overall team employing over 150 people, it has pioneered wildlife camping and walking safaris into buffer zones and supported

longterm research through its dedicated Conservation Cell into buffer forest restoration between Panna and Bandhavgarh

The John Wakefield Memorial Award for Most Inspirational Eco Lodge of the Year 2014Kipling Camp, Kanha, Madhya Pradesh – Once a bare patch of land on the borders of Kisli in Kanha in the 1980s, Kipling is now a forest of trees and yet a haven of old-world hospitality, in which wildlife and birdlife once again flourish.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism

VALOR AND GLORY ETCHED IN STONE!The time has stood still here amongst the ancient stones at Khaujuraho, Madu,Orchha, Maheshwar !

The soul of the other India is perceptible here. Come to Madhya Pradesh and discover the magic of ‘a many splendored land’.

Experience the increible moments of Valor and Glory etched in stone; Love, passion,

feasting, divinity arrested in the sensitive chisels of master craftsmen and the roar of the tiger.

AWARDS GALORE FOR WILDLIFE TOURISM IN MADHYA PRADESH

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Read the whole story in the CD

People in some of the remotest villages in Ladakh have never experienced electricity in their lives. This team of changemakers is giving a whole new meaning to tourism. They have constructed an advanced, technology-friendly E-base and have also set up three Solar DC Microgrids.

Global Himalayan Expedition aims at giving tourists a holistic Himalayan experience, stretching across pure adventure and cultural connect with the local communities. They also encourage the travelers in setting up sustainable energy and education based infrastructure in the remote Himalayan regions.

“Our main objective is to use tourism to impact the lives of remote and underprivileged communities across the Himalayan region. Tourism should be much more than just visiting a place; it should impact both the community’s life and your life,” says Paras Loomba, founder, GHE.

Son of an army officer, Loomba travelled extensively across India, stayed in 12 cities, changed around 15 schools and experienced some of the coldest places of India. While he initially thought of joining the army, Loomba’s desire to do something different kept him restless and he looked for ways he could explore different areas of work. Loomba gathered a bunch of his friends and planned to set up a school in Ladakh with the latest technologies and facilities. The GHE expedition team is selected through a set process. Applications are invited across the globe and only pasionate people are selected. A maximum of 25 people go for the expedition at one time and they come from different countries. They currently conduct one expedition each year for a duration of about 12 days, but they hope to make double that frequency soon.

“Since we want to make it a global platform, the expedition team consists of people from several countries. 40 percent of the people are from India and the rest from other countries,” says Loomba.

Loomba and his team went to Ladakh to construct a one-of-its-kind E-Base (Education Base) near Mahabodi school. The school hosts around

500 students from several nearby villages. He didn’t have any experience in this field. But it was his passion that drove him to the highest peak to bring a change. And it was his passion and his team’s hard work that helped him construct a Third Pole E-base, 3,500 meters above the sea level.

“I would like to tell people to travel responsibly. Avoid the use of plastic and connect with the community,”

Jannaram Eco Tourism Project Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary

Adilabad is on the northern tip of Telangana and derives its name from the erstwhile ruler

of Bijapur, Mohammed Adil Shah. It is most renowned for its Kakatiyan art form of paintings and toys-Nirmal art. The oil paintings come in themes of epics like Ramayan and Mahabharat. The wooden toys are coated with tamarind paste that gives a golden sheen, and then embellished with oil colours. Adilabad is also home to the Dokra craft, a non ferrous metal casting using the lost-wax casting technique. This sort of metal casting has been used in India for over 4,000 years and is still used.

The product of dokra artisans are known for its primitive simplicity, enchanting folk motifs and forceful form. The Basar Temple, located on the banks of River Godavari is one among the few temples dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, The district also houses architectural heritages like the Nirmal Fort, which was built by the French, when the were fascinated by the scenic beauty here.The Kuntala Waterfall, Pochera falls, Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary and Pranahitha Wildlife are scenic spots in Adilabad that are often visited by trekkers, explorers and nature lovers.

Toll Free: 1800-4254-6464 www.telanganatourism.gov.in

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tour

ist d

raw

s.

Dep

artm

ent o

f Tou

rism

Tel.:

+91

-651

-240

0981

, Em

ail:

info

@jh

arkh

andt

ouris

m.in

Web

site:

ww

w.jh

arkh

andt

ouris

m.in

Trib

es o

f Jha

rkha

ndFr

om th

e le

gend

ary

Asur

s and

San

thal

s, to

the

Banj

ara,

Bi

rhor

, Che

ro, G

ond,

Ho,

Kho

nd, L

ohra

, Mai

Pah

ariy

a,

Mun

da,

Ora

on,

Kol

or

Kaw

ar-o

ver

thirt

y-tw

o tr

ibal

gr

oups

(28

% o

f the

tota

l pop

ulat

ion

of th

e sta

te),

have

le

ft th

eir

impr

essio

n on

the

cul

ture

of

the

regi

on. A

nd

with

them

, wer

e the

cros

s-cu

ltura

l infl

uenc

es o

f loc

al n

on-

trib

al c

omm

uniti

es a

nd s

ucce

ssiv

e w

aves

of

Budd

hism

an

d Ja

inism

, M

ugha

l ru

le a

nd t

he r

eign

of

the

Hin

du

empe

rors

of B

enga

l.

Wild

life,

Jha

rkha

ndW

ildlif

e in

Jha

rkha

nd i

s vi

vid,

offe

ring

you

a hi

gh l

evel

of

thril

l an

d ju

ngle

ex

perie

nce.

Dal

ma

is a

beau

tiful

pla

ce, a

nd t

he b

est

fore

st ar

ea in

Jha

rkha

nd

whe

re to

urist

s can

stay

and

enjo

y nat

ural

bea

uty.

Ther

e is P

indr

abed

a gu

est h

ouse

that

has

two

doub

le-b

ed r

oom

s and

a d

orm

itory

with

six

bed

s. Al

so, t

here

are

bam

boo

cotta

ges w

ith m

oder

n fa

cilit

ies.

Ther

e ar

e ec

o-re

sort

s an

d co

ttage

s in

Dal

ma

fore

st w

hich

are

se

t up

by th

e fo

rest

depa

rtm

ent.

Such

faci

litie

s are

also

ther

e in

oth

er fo

rest

area

s.

Loca

tion

of F

ores

t Res

t Hou

ses

Man

go (J

amsh

edpu

r), B

ahar

agor

a in

Eas

t Sin

ghbh

um, B

etla

in L

ateh

ar,

Basu

kina

th in

Dum

ka, D

eogh

ar a

nd T

ilayi

a in

Haz

arib

agh

THE INDIAN STORIES

Responsibly & Sustainably

Over a thousand species are facing extinction, many thousands practicing art forms/folklore are dying out, age old practices and traditions that needs 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 of such projects close down over a period of time.

We, at India Tourism eCatalog, felt it our responsibility to reach out to such projects and people. To map them and add them to the tourism network. 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 look forward to your suggestions and comments / feedbacks. Our email address is editor@indiatourismecatalog.com

Some of the stories that have been encapsulated earlier, are available in the CD accompanying this booklet and also on our website, www.indiatourismecatalog.com/responsible_tourism/index.html

We have our own socially committed organisation, Eternal Energy (www.eternalenergy.in) which is into Value Based Living Workshops and Biodiversity Outreach Programs. One of the projects that we work on is to raise more awareness on the “Plastic Cow”. For more details, please visit our website. We are also actively involved in funding some animal welfare projects, and other causes specially for the blind and girl child upliftment.

Blog: www.tourismblogspot.com Website: www.indiatourismecatalog.com

THE INDIAN STORIES