Honeymoon in India

Planet

-Our environmental policy starts from our office and our homes. We use minimum of papers, we donot print unless and until it is essential. Once paper is printed and has served its purpose, it is reused from opposite side either for printing or for manual writing, for office internal use. Once fully used, paper is sold further to recycling.
-We donot use single use plastic like plastic cups or plastic plates or even sealed water bottles in office.
-To receive our guests at airport, hand written board is used or electronic board instead of a paper paging board or laminated paper paging board.
-As a welcome kit, guests are handed over cloth bags which can be used for shopping or to carry small items during their travel in India and later can be carried back home for further use.
-Wherever possible, we include tuk-tuk rides which runs on environment friendly fuel (CNG).
-For each guest we give stainless steel water bottles that can be used each day for filling filtered water from their hotels before leaving their hotel…this avoids using Plastic Mineral water bottles.
-In certain cities we also give option of using bicycles for visits instead of using their accompanying vehicle.
-All our vehicles follow government guidelines towards minimising pollution.

Hotels :
-All the hotels included are owned by Indians and are nature friendly.
-Trident Hotels (part of Oberoi group of hotels) used in this tour are committed to employing the best environmental and ecological practices in technology, equipment and operational processes. The Group also supports philanthropic activities and is a keen contributor to the conservation of nature and cultural heritage.
-Other hotels contribute towards conservation of nature and environment by water harvesting, garbage disposal etc.

Refer stay in Camps :
Being from the region, the family continues to be custodians of the land and its people. The community is a part of your stay here and is supported in other ways beyond just as employment of staff. The Camel rides have ensured a steady income to the camel herders, produce is sourced locally and the local artists, musicians, craftsmen and art forms are showcased by hiring them for performances at the Camp.

Water and other resources are scare in this region and are paid special attention to. Solar energy is abundantly used for lighting and hot water needs while careful use and preservation of water is a mandate with rain water harvesting and drip irrigation measures in place. Waste is composted and dry waste is sent for recycling. Plastic is avoided in all forms and guests are encouraged to drink safe RO filtered water instead of bottled water.

The Thar Desert brings with it its own unique flora and fauna that is ecologically rich and diverse. However, with water coming in and agricultural practices increasing, this creates an imbalance with what is native to the region and what is not. Camp has taken it up as a mission to reclaim some of this agricultural land to recreate a reserve of desert forest shrub thereby protecting the biodiversity of the region. Part of the land is also being repurposed for organic cultivation of indigenous produce and dairy. Four hundred acres of land has been purchased to let the flora and fauna flourish; over 250 acres is dedicated as a desert park near the Camp – both contributing to the preservation of this sensitive and indigenous region and its inhabitants.

Refer stay at Shahpura Bagh :
At Shahpura Bagh, sustainability and philanthropy are their guiding legacy.
The original founder of the royal state of Shahpura and Fort Dhikola, its ancestor, Rajadhiraj Nahar Singh mortgaged the family wealth to create the first rainwater harvesting system in the region. Today, it is Shahpura’s lifeline and has created a strong spirit of community.

Family at Shahpura Bagh works with the community across several platforms not limited only to rainwater harvesting but also, education, medicine, promoting tribal arts and the overall organised development of the area. When you visit Shahpura, not only do you have an amazing holiday but also the chance to restore their heritage, for our children, and yours.

This tradition of environmental and social consciousness, is their core ethos.

The Shahpura family contributes a portion of its turnover towards this charity and encourages guests to support and get involved in these works of philanthropy, thereby using tourism as a tool to foster social and economic development in this under-developed area. All their water is heated by solar power.

Refer stay at Ajit Bhawan (and Rawla Narlai) :
Since the conception of Ajit Bhawan, sustainability through the eyes of its patrons has been the sole inspiration that is visible in every aspect of your experience at the property.
Local materials and culture has inspired the ethos of the rustic design, with wide varieties of plants and trees, with rooms that have been built around trees, the property is an epitome of sustainable design.
Their employment policy is also deeply embedded in local society which single-handedly is responsible for sustaining the welfare of communities in villages near and far from Jodhpur.

Refer stay at The Tigress Resort and Spa in Ranthambore :
The Tigress Resort and Spa is into ecotourism activities bound with Nature responsibility. It follows many guidelines and practices which have been recognised on different platforms like being “ECOFRIENDLY RESORT” at SATA 2019.

Few of the General Practices are as follow:-
1) Empathy, respect, and understanding are necessary to be in harmony with nature.
2) Making Accommodation in traditional, organic farms, campsites
3) Recycle and reuse, don’t waste water and energy, leave no trace, don’t grab or kill anything, don’t light unnecessary fires.
4) Protection of natural areas.
5) Minimal Usage of Chemical in Cleaning .
6) Don't waste food, Don't use or cut down on single-use plastic. Reusable hot drink crockeries.
7) Gardening/ growing your own fruit and vegetables.

People

Economic responsibility :
-Local guides in each city will conduct sightseeings, with your help, they will get direct employment.
-Most of our tours will have one session about introduction to ancient practice of Yoga with a local yoga teacher. You will experience yoga session in Agra and one more place.
-You help us in contributing our bit to Sightsavers India ; NGO taking care of Mentally Challenged people and giving yoga lessons to Visually Impaired Girls.
-In Jaipur you will enjoy rickshaw ride from Pink City Rickshaw ride company that aims to provide employment opportunity to women from low income households.
-Visiting local families for meals and interaction.
-You will be visiting local family for dinner and interaction. You can also stay with locals in form of homestays. Let us know if you would like to explore this option.
-You will be visiting local craft shops for souvenirs and gifts, buying from them helps in preserving the art and craft and thus supporting the families who are carrying forward this tradition of working with hand.
-Activities like jeep ride in Ranthambore & boat ride in Udaipur , jeep ride in Jaipur and camel ride during stay in desrt Camps help in generating employment to locals and conservation of natural resources.
-Our suppliers are paid immediately after they have rendered their services to our guests.
-During the tour, you will be visiting local restaurants for meals.
-Hotels in small villages and cities employ locals and source material from surrounding areas.

Social responsibility :
-Our tours include visit to UNESCO World Heritage sites and sites which are managed by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). These organisations are doing their best to reserve the heritage of our country.
Besides this you may visit local museums and craft centres including painting schools important in preserving the craft.
-During the tour, you will get the chance to attend local music and dance performances. These activities employ huge number of locals and some of the families carry the tradition of music and dance from generation to generation.
-If your travel happens to be during the festival time, we love to take you to the local families to celebrate festival with them and experience it from the closest.
-You may visit a café by NGO working towards rehab of acid attack survivors.
-Rickshaw ride in Jaipur is organised by The Pink City Rickshaw Co. which is a unique innovative initiative of ACCESS Development Services, a not for profit organization and aims to provide a new aspirational employment opportunity to 200 women from low income households in Jaipur.
-We will also meet craftsmen who have been preserving the tradition miniature painting in Udaipur.