Discover a different side of Uttarakhand! Only a few hours away from the touristy areas of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Nainital, Almora, Rishikesh, Hardwar and Mussoorie etc. a very different experience awaits you. Here, in the beautiful Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, friendly communities invite you to experience their traditional way of life and diverse eco-systems in an authentic and non-intrusive way.
This undiscovered part of Uttarakhand will captivate visitors from all walks of life, young and old. Guests have the opportunity to learn about the traditional culture of the local people and contribute to the conservation of this outstanding natural environment.
Village Walks works as a facilitator with these communities to provide responsible and authentic community based tours, which genuinely benefit the local people. We offer eco-tours, cultural tours, educational programs and volunteer placements, even for those with limited time or tight budgets.
Village Walks is being managed by Centre For Mountain Tourism and Hospitality Studies, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal and came into existence as a result of a National Workshop on "Ecotourism Planning and Promotion in Uttarakhand" under UGC sponsored Special Assistance Programme SAP in the month of March, 2010.
Vision
The world is not such a lonely planet anymore but the very resources we promote through tourism are in danger of degradation. Visiting offbeat destinations in Uttarakhand Mountains, trekking to a remote village, picturesque meadow, sacred haunts of Gods & Goddesses in a meditative environment- they are all amazing and create a sense of awe for the environment and different cultures.
When a community welcomes you with warm smiles, you sample local cuisine, see an ancient historic site, rich tradition, pristine nature and unique way of life - you will not be the only one to do so - but you can ensure it is preserved and protected for future generations.
When you see a beautiful meadow or lake with garbage or a once beautiful landscape paved with concrete you also realize that if principles of sustainable tourism are not put into action, then each one of these destinations will lose their appeal, environmental beauty and ultimately, their profitability.
In order to develop a sustainable tourism and travel industry, some key areas to consider include:
- sound financial and business planning environmental management
- sensitivity to cultural and social dynamics
- efficient management, training and customer service
- consideration and inclusion of all stakeholders
- long term vision and good joined-up governance
- marketing and communications programs to showcase the positive elements
Our experiences, education in tourism and work experience have led us to believe passionately in the principles of sustainable tourism. We have experience in both practical and theoretical implications of tourism and all facets of tourism development and management.
Mission Statement
To explore, enjoy, and protect the naturally rich places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the Uttarakhand’s ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.
To provide travelers with a rewarding experience whilst simultaneously unlocking the power of ecotourism to benefit marginalized communities and assist disadvantaged individuals. Uttarakhand is a land of enormous variety and stunning beauty. We are very conscious of this thus making it mainly focused on creating and supporting sustainable ways of living in harmony with the environment, with wildlife and between communities. To support village communities and individual local entrepreneurs in their development of community-based tourism products by offering advice/training and supporting the product with promotion and bookings. It has also done so by educating the community, offering employment to the locals as tour guides/ nature interpreters and much more hence increasing awareness of direct gains generated by variety of tourism resources at large. We are therefore proud to be associated with nature and its real custodians- ‘The Locals’!
Accommodation
· Regional Accommodation
Village walks can arrange Tented/hotel accommodation in all popular destinations as — we have options to meet any budget and taste. For village tours, we highly recommend staying with a host family in a homestay. Staying with a family allows you to take a privileged look into their lives and really connect with the villagers. You will be made to feel like a member of the family, due to the warmth and hospitality of the villagers. This kind of genuine authenticity can not be replicated in a hotel or guesthouse, and is often the highlight of many peoples' trip.
· Homestay accommodation
We recommend staying with a host family in a homestay during your cultural village tour. Staying with a family allows you to take a privileged look into their lives and really connect with the villagers. You will be made to feel like a member of the family, due to the warmth and hospitality of the villagers. This kind of genuine authenticity cannot be replicated in a hotel or guesthouse, and is often the highlight of an Andaman Discoveries village tour. A translator will be with you to allow you to really engage with the villagers on a mutual level.
For those of you who want the in-village experience, but are uncertain about staying with a host family, some villages have houses that are free for people to stay in by themselves.
The homestays are simple and comfortable, each offering a private sleeping area. The homestays are managed by the villagers on a rotation system to ensure that it is fair for all families. The houses are as different as the families who live in them, ranging from traditional hill style houses to modern housing. Attached toilets are available in some of the houses while others are having Common baths.
Culinary Delights
While in-village, one of the highlights has to be the food. Every meal is a veritable feast of delightfully tasty Garhwali curries and fresh vegetable dishes. Mouthwatering dishes are prepared using traditional cooking methods with the finest local ingredients and freshly picked garden vegetables. You are always welcome to join in the preparation of the meal and learn Garhwali cooking in a traditional setting — a great way to learn the secrets of mouthwatering and extremely healthy Uttarakhandi cuisine.
Sharing a meal with the host family provides the ideal opportunity to share stories and learn more about each other cultures in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Tour Programmes
Itinerary: 1
Day 1: Arrival at Makku Village. Dinner after local folk dance/music. Overnight at local family homes.
Day 2: Early Morning visit Tungnath temple at the village. After breakfast trek through dense forests to remains of Jhujhanigarh topkhana with pack lunch. Spend the day inside the densest forest of the area viewing wildlife. Evening trek down to village, dinner and overnight at the village.
Day 3: After breakfast drive to village Sari. On arrival start trekking (2.5 Km) to Deoriatal, a beautiful lake offering panoramic view of the snow clad mountains. Evening trek 2.5 km down to village Sari. Dinner with folk performances, overnight stay at family homes. OR one can stay at Deoriatal in tents. Next morning trek down to Sari and drive to Pothibasa.
Day 4: After breakfast drive to Pothibasa. Further trek 3 km to Duggalbhita on the bird watchers trail. Lunch at camp in duggalbhitta. Evening free for enjoying the natural beauty of the area. Dinner with bonfire & overnight stay at camps.
Day 5: Start the day with a short rejuvenating yogic session on the misty meadow. After breakfast drive to Chopta. Trek 3 km to reach Tungnath temple situated at an altitude of the 3680 mts. After darshans further trek 1 km to Chandrashila Top to have a 360° view of mountains and the valleys. Afternoon trek down to Chopta and proceed for Mandal through Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. Night stay at Mandal.
Day 6: after breakfast trek 6 km to Anusuya Devi temple through rich forest of oak, rhododendron and deodar along the banks of Amritganga River. After darshans at Anusuya Devi Temple further wal 1 Km to Atrimuni Ashram and Amrit Ganga waterfall. Afternoon trek down to Mandal, evening free at leisure. Next Morning proceed to your further destination.
Tour Concludes
Itinerary: 2
Day 1: Afternoon arrival at Nalachatti village. In the evening visit ancient temple group of Narayankoti an archaeological site. Dinner with traditional garhwali live music. Overnight at Nalachatti.
Day 2: After breakfast drive to Sari Village enroute visit Ukhimath Temple the winter seat of Lord Kedarnath. Dinner after local folk dance/music. Overnight at local family homes.
Day 3: Early Morning visit khyaleshwar Mahadev temple at the village. After breakfast trek 2.5 Km to Deoriatal with pack lunch. Spend the day at Deoriatal. Evening trek down to village, dinner and overnight at the village.
Day 4: After breakfast drive to Chopta, a beautiful meadow further trek 3 Km to Tungnath Temple . Evening trek 3 km down to chopta and drive 6 Km to campsite at Duggalbhita. Dinner with bonfire.
Day 5: After breakfast drive to Makku Village through the densest forest of the area. Lunch at the village, in the evening Join the Aarti at Tungneth temple (winter seat of Lord Tungnath) at the village. Before dinner enjoy the live performance of Bagduwal Dance. Overnight at family homes.
Day 6: After breakfast proceed to your next destination.
TOUR ENDS
FACT FILE
Famous Village Attractions :
Ukhimath Temple, Deoriatal Lake, Archeaological site at Narayankoti, Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary, American Sheep Breeding Farm beautifully Located near Makku, Breathtaking High altitude Meadows of Chopta and Duggalbhitta bugyals, Highest Shiva Srine at Tungnath, 360ْ view of Himalayan peaks and surrounding valleys from Chandrashila top, Breathtaking waterfall and cave at Atrimuni Asram, variety of trek routes ranging from mild to hard, Birdwthing trails with more than 200 species of birds,
Must Experience :
Day to Day Activities of Village Life and Interaction with Locals. Staying in a Village home with Village Family. Live Folk songs and Dance performances.
What to Do:
Watching Himalayan peaks at Sunrise and Sunset, Participate in agricultural activities, Learn about the rich cultural and natural history.
Staying Options:
Camp Accommodation, Village Stay. Lodges and Hotels
Getting There:
The Villages are connected by Road and so you can hire Car or a Bus from the to reach there. Ponies, Guides and porters are available for trekking at villages.
Inside Tip:
While on your Village Trail, respect the culture and heritage of the villagers. Do not unnecessarily interfere in their life-style for you may annoy them by doing so.
ABOUT US
Having benchmarked itself with some of the best tourism institutes Centre For Mountain Tourism and Hospitality Studies (CMTHS ) of HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal , since its inception in 1976 is imparting quality education and to train its budding tourism professionals aimed at ensuring their total personality development. Growth and development of tourism have added many dimensions in the history of CMTHS which has played an important role in promoting sustainable tourism practices in Uttarakhand.
Recognizing the endeavors of the centre, University Grants Commission has allocated a Special Assistance Programme (SAP) to the centre for the planning and promotion of ecotourism in Uttarakhand. Consequent upon recently held workshop, widely attended by tourism professionals, scholars and villagers from hill region of Uttarakhand, the concept of ‘Village Walks’ came into being as a platform where the eco tourists and local people as service providers can meet and foster sustainable community based ecotourism practices.
