Indian Himalayas eco retreat in Dunagiri, India
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Through tourism, education, advocacy, and stewardship Dunagiri Retreat’s goal is to preserve, promote and support preservation of the culture, history and natural resources that contribute to the community identity, depth and character of the Dunagiri region.
We store and use rainwater, we recycle 100% of our bio-degradable waste and minimize use of plastics. We are a running farm and orchard too, and we use no pesticides or chemicals in our fields or trees. The area around us is known for several naturally occurring medicinal herbs. Unfortunately most of them are not catalogued – so we are collecting samples and making a library of local plants. We make utmost efforts to provide a sanctuary to All forms of life - be it a leaf, an insect, bird or an animal. We use only lowest-energy consuming light fixtures, and all our buildings have been constructed exclusively with local stone and mud-mortar, by local artisans. At every step, we have kept our energy and consumption footprint to the barest minimum. At Dunagiri, we emphasize and demonstrate how to live a life of awareness – where happiness is not about how much we can consume but rather about how little can we consume. We do this by setting an example in all that we do. Our non-profit organization is called - "So All May Exist" or SAME.
Community
In an area of such natural beauty and rich heritage, we at Dunagiri feel it is our responsibility to offer a unique and fulfilling visitor experience, and to do so in an environmentally and culturally respectful and aware manner. Our guests experience beauty of nature, the places, the history and the culture of India and of the Dunagiri area…all while working together to protect the environment and benefit local cultures and communities.
We buy as much as possible from the local organic farmer community. We employ only local village population. We are running free educational programs to teach English language to village children. We organize health camps, education camps, training camps which are free of cost and for the benefit of local community. This entire project is, in fact, meant to enhance sustainability of this area. At the same time, we emphasize human dignity and respect are as important for happiness as is mere money and employment. Dunagiri Retreat has become a nodal center and is providing a platform to like-minded people to come together and help. Visitors to the retreat get the opportunity to meet and interact with the local population and observe 1000’s of years of living culture. Local residents benefit from exchange of ideas and information about thoughts and cultures from various parts of the world!
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