India offers a range of incredible experiences which also happen to be gentle on the planet, thus proving that travel can be more than just an escape; it can be a means to connect, learn, and contribute to preserving cultural and natural heritage. The true essence of travel lies not just in the destinations but in the connections—with the locals, the environment, and the stories that become a part of your own narrative. We hope this list of curated, immersive experiences and the inspiring stories behind them propels you to rediscover India.
Amidst the rugged terrains of Kargil, the Museum of Memories in the village of Hundurman opens up a window into the lives of people who have survived four wars and lived under the rule of two countries. The village's unique architectural style and connection with the 1971 war prompted this museum's opening.
A joint initiative of Roots Ladakh, a local travel company, CEPT University and the villagers of Hundurman, the museum houses several rare artefacts, including French coffee tins, identity cards, coins and traditional jewellery. When asked what could potentially be the oldest preserved part of the museum, co-curator Muzammil Hussain shares, "It might be the building which houses the museum itself. It is believed to be 300+ years old."
What makes a visit to the Hundurman Museum truly unique is the opportunity to interact with the local Purigpa tribe. With a current population of about 39,000, the Purigpas are the original inhabitants of Hundurman. Guests can have a traditional meal of local Purigpa and Balti dishes with the museum host, Iliyas.
Guests can experience the museum through a curated tour hosted by Roots Ladakh and can choose to stay at either the local homestay at Hundurmaan or 30 minutes away at the Black Sheep B&B in Kargil. To reach Hundurman, the nearest airport is in Leh, from where it's a scenic 5-6 hour drive. The best time to visit is between May and October.
India's first desert botanical-inspired resort, Kaner Retreat, stands majestically amidst the golden sands of Hapusar. Named after the Oleander flower or desert rose, Kaner has been brought to life by long-time Thar resident Sapna Bhatia.
How does one sustain oneself in the desert? Guests can find the answer in the orientation tour of the 'oran' or sacred grove amidst Kaner. The orientation tour helps guests become familiarised with the concepts of famine foods, foraging, and the truly unique cuisine of the Thar. Local and seasonal ingredients like Ker, sun-dried vegetables, Mung Dal, Kala Chana, pomegranates, olives, etc. are prominent in the in-house dishes.
Guests can experience a cheese-tasting session with cheeses made from camel milk, including cream cheese and feta, sourced locally from Camel Charishma. They also can sample through a 5-course meal inspired by modern Marwari flavours. And one is spoilt for choice when choosing the landscape for these exquisite meals, from lunch at an olive farm to dinner in the dunes.
Hapusar is accessible by road from Jodhpur, which has the nearest airport and railway station. The best time to visit is from October to March, when the desert is pleasantly cool. To truly make the best of the experience, one can consider Kaner's Thar Unplugged package, where apart from the culinary experiences, you can also indulge in guided nature walks, plant-based wellness sessions, stargazing, bird-watching and jeep safari sessions in the desert wilderness.
In the remote village of Phyang, located amidst the mountains of Ladakh, a sky full of stars awaits guests. For city dwellers like us, a dark, star-studded night sky is a true rarity, but not when you are at the Cosmohub at Phyang.
Stargazing is a low-impact, nature-based activity that has brought the community together and motivated local women to lead the change. About 34 local women have been trained in astronomy and now lead the tours. With the advantage of the Himalayan dark sky and minimal light pollution, the stargazing experience at Phyang is truly unparalleled.
"There were many women in the village who weren't trained in astronomy but wanted to play a role in sharing a slice of Phyang with guests, and we had to find a way," shares Sonal Asgotraa, Founder of Astrostays and CosmoHub. Thus, a well-rounded immersive program was built, centred on astronomy, and also included a guided tour of the 700-year-old Phyang monastery, a tour of local apricot processing and pashmina handicrafts workshops and locally sourced, farm-fresh Ladakhi meals.
Guests can book the entire experience through Cosmohub from June to September. They can choose to stay at a local homestay or a 30-minute drive away in the town of Leh.
En route to the historic Hill Cart Road that connects Siliguri with Darjeeling, you will find yourself at TIEEDI, a self-sufficient, regenerative, zero-waste experiential stay and earth school. Tieedi Forest Garden offers a unique co-living experience with nature, where you can enrol in a permaculture course focusing on natural farming at Dzomsa, the classroom at the Tieedi Forest School. Pause and immerse in the surrounding nature as you take inspiration behind the name TIEEDI, which is an abbreviation for 'Take it easy, easy does it' from an old Ladakhi folk song.
As founder Utsow Pradhan puts it, "Tieedi is a project we have envisioned to fight for pure air, fresh water and rich soil for all beings. That is our vision statement." Driven by this vision, the team is committed to sharing an experience where guests travel and live differently while learning the ropes of sustainable land and building solutions, decentralised waste management and regenerative tourism. You can also get certified on the successful completion of the permaculture course.
You can also experience Tieedi as part of a short-term stay, where you can go on village walks, hike to surrounding waterfalls and birding trails and sample the local Newari cuisine.
Tieedi is an hour's drive from Darjeeling and easily accessible by road. Guests can choose to stay at an earth dwelling, a garden room or a shared dormitory.
Moving on to the serene hills of Himachal Pradesh, we arrive at The Lodge at Wah in Palampur. At the Lodge, which has a history of more than 70 years, your hosts are fourth-generation planters, Surya Prakash and Upasana Todi Prakash.
Whether you want to learn the journey from a shrub to a teacup, learn more about the people who pluck your tea or acquaint yourself with the traits of a tea sommelier, there is a tea tour for you here. After a walk through the tea gardens and a brush with history, guests can witness the withering, rolling, fermenting, drying and sorting processes involved in the manufacturing of tea and then move on to sample a range of freshly brewed teas of different varieties and flavours and learn insider tips of making the perfect cup of tea.
Guests also get to experience an authentic Himachali dining experience in the form of a Kangri Dhaam, which includes local specialities like Kala Chana Khatta, Teliyama, Jimikand Madra and Meethe Chawal.
Palampur is accessible from the Kangra Airport or a 10-hour drive from Delhi. Guests can stay at an eco-friendly homestay on the 500-acre farm.
Our final stop is the southern Indian coastal town of Ramanathapuram, which is close to Rameshwaram. With access to the pristine blue waters of Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar, Quest Academy is the perfect spot to get started on some thrilling, low-impact water sports.
From kayaking to windsurfing, snorkelling and sailing to scuba diving and stand-up paddling, guests at Quest Academy are spoilt for choice. All the activities offered at the Academy use non-motorised power—paddle, pedal or wind. The primary focus for all offerings at Quest Academy is to create awareness of the triple bottom line of sustainability—people, planet and profit.
Through its Ocean Ambassadors Foundation, Quest Academy organises regular outreach and training programs for the coastal community to provide them with an alternate source of income. Quest doesn't stop at that; they do regular beach cleanups and have popularised the concept of 'trash for cash', where local children can pay them in the trash in exchange for activities.
Ramanathapuram is 2.5 hours away from the nearest airport in Madurai. Guests can stay at the natural cottages built using local materials like coconut thatch, palm sticks and silver teak and are inspired by the Chettinad architecture.
