Back to the Roots

Back to the Roots
Less is more when it comes to rural eco-tourism

By: Ipsita Sarkar, New Delhi

Almost 74 per cent of Indias population resides in its 7 million villages. According to the Ministry of Tourism, rural tourism is one of the few solutions that can counter the effect of the growing urbanisation syndrome in villages. And the quintessential Indian village is attracting tourists by the thousands.

 

If an opposite word were to exist for the word city, it would have to be village. Your grandma and grandpa, might have highlighted this opposition a countless number of times saying Back in our village, there was so much peace and calm it was easier to breathe and life was uncomplicated. The yearning to return to their roots was strong. The dads might recall how they learnt to swim in the non-descript ponds and rivers of the villages (instead of the fancy country club swimming pool in town) and climb trees with a certain pride. How extended families reunited during family functions in their ancestral village home. And then there is Generation Us! City born, city bred. To whom such connections are but tales.

Since opposites attract, a natural curiosity to explore our rural roots was bound to emerge. In our increasingly hectic and fast paced city life, the idea of a vacation is often to take a break and head off to somewhere different. What better break than a visit to a rural destination? Visiting its untouched scenic wonders, witnessing a way of life so much closer to nature and in the process, creating sustainable eco-systems, providing alternate sources of sustainable livelihood opportunities for the rural people and empowering the local community in harnessing their natural resources. Rural tourism, an emerging eco-tourism sector, preserves and promotes eco-friendly practices, cottage industries and the cultural heritage of the local artisans.

https://vimeo.com/16297812

http://youtu.be/8heynT5AW1k

www.rosekanda.org

http://www.euttaranchal.com/hotels/rose-kanda-rural-homestay-bageshwar.php

www.facebook.com/ROSEKanda.volunteering

 http://bageshwar.nic.in/pages/display/55-excursion