Sustainable tourism in India has taken great strides over the past few years. Travel experiences that let you delve into a sustainable way of living, economic empowerment of local communities, and preserving the cultural and built heritage of the places you visit are gaining momentum over bucket-list tours. The growth of sustainable travel destinations in India and travellers taking more sustainable travel decisions has led to the creation of bespoke sustainable travel experiences.
Travel with a purpose
We have picked the top five travel experiences from sustainable travel destinations in India to help you get started. These are incredible additions to your journey through India and offer a peek into the sustainable way of living in different parts of the country. The tours, spread across India, are culturally immersive and allow you to peek into a different side of the places. These are a great window into sustainable tourism in India and an excellent way to learn about traditional wisdoms, arts, and crafts.
We have designed each of them meticulously to maximise their sustainability quotient without compromising on your experience.
Once Upon a Time in Panchayat, Jaipur
Village life in India is one of the most striking examples of a sustainable way of living. If you are visiting Jaipur, adding this tour to your plans is a great idea to experience sustainable tourism in India. It gives you the chance to understand the inner workings of a village that is progressively moving towards organic agricultural practices. Learn about the positive impacts these practices have had on the lives of the people from your host. You will also learn about how a government school works from students and interact with the villagers who will explain how the organic farm has become a model for sustainable farming.
Toy Stories at Channapatna, Channapatna
Between the glittering metros of Bengaluru and Mysore, there is a place that will delight the inner child in you. Fondly called the Land of Toys, Channapatna is famous for its beautifully crafted wooden toys. Its unique craft has earned it the coveted World Trade Organisation’s Geographical Indication (GI). The preservation of this two-centuries-old artisanal heritage is a great example of sustainability. Channapatna is accessible from both Bengaluru and Mysore. You can also visit a nearby village where artisans practise lacware craft on hand-drive lathes in its original form. Try your hands at creating a wooden toy as a souvenir under the tutelage of the masters.
Truck Painting Experience, Jodhpur
In India, every surface is a canvas to express one’s self. The trucks that ply across the country are no different. In fact, they have some of the quirkiest artwork and captions painted across them. From the legendary “Horn OK Please” to a mix of gods, animals, scenery, and much more, truck painting has become a veritable art form in India. When you are in Jodhpur, you can meet one such master painter whose creations are going to leave you spellbound. Learn about his art and help him complete his current work in progress.
A Night in Dhani, Khichan
150 km from Jodhpur, stands the quiet village of Dhani, which is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the traditional rural life of Rajasthan. Spend the night with one of the families to experience their sustainable way of living that is simple and unpretentious. Learn to communicate without the use of words as they do not know English, nor you their dialect. Dine on local specialities and call it a night. Watch the village come alive in the morning as the people set about their daily chores. This is one of the best experiences to “live like a local” in one of the sustainable travel destinations in India.
Street Food Tour, Varanasi
To know the soul of a place, one needs to taste its street food. When you “eat like a local”, you experience the essence of the city and become an integral part of sustainable tourism in India. In a city as ancient as Varanasi, tasting its street food is like travelling through centuries of culinary heritage. You get to visit some of the historical and traditional food joints and sample a range of sweet and savoury snacks. Learn the origin stories as you experience a smorgasbord of flavours and textures. Whether you are vegetarian or not, Varanasi has something for everyone.
Make Travel a Part of Your Sustainable Way of Living
Sustainability in travel is as important as it is in every other sphere of life. Sustainable tourism in India is essential to preserve and improve the natural and cultural heritage, and bolster the economic growth of the local communities. It is also necessary to preserve the environment so that future generations can also enjoy the country’s bountiful offerings. Over the years, many sustainable travel destinations in India have developed and taken bold strides towards promoting sustainable travel and we, at Sita, are committed to highlight these in all our endeavours. By choosing one or more of the top 5 sustainable travel experiences, you can not only enrich your travel experience, but also do your bit to promote sustainable tourism in India.
