Pahadi Bhula – The taste of Himalayas
An initiative under our ‘Sustainable tourism India’ campaign which is to empower the youths of villages of mountainous state of Uttarkhand in India. The word ‘Pahari’ means belonging to Mountains and Bhulla means ‘brother or friend’, so this campaign ‘Pahadi Bhula’ literally means ‘friends of the people of Himalayas’
This part of Indian Himalayas is very picturesque and a house of rich flora and fauna. Himalayan state has its own music, culture, cuisine and folklore. This land is also known as ‘Dev-Bhoomi’ (The land of Gods), as many of the holi shrines, Ashrams of renowned Himalayan Yogis are scattered all around this state.
Due to various unavoidable socio-economic changes and natural disasters about 700 villages of Uttrakhand become almost uninhabited and now are officially known as the ‘Ghost villages’. Our Pahadi Bhula project is an attempt to make these unique villages available to travellers for stay along with great Himalayan culture, local food, village activity and farming experiences. The income generated will be used to promote reverse migration to these villages and keep old traditions alive.
In course of time the nature and structure of Ashrams have undergone changes, but the basic purpose have remained unchanged.
This Uttrakhand state geographically consists of broadly two diverse divisions – Kumaon and Garwal and both regions have very high potential for spiritual and cultural tourism, which need to be done very sustainably as the geography of the State is very fragile and cannot support big commercial hotels and energy intensive projects due to threats of Global warming and climate change.
We offer stay in these Himalayan villages and trying to make them Happier Himalayan villages by linking them with tourism and the corporate world.
Also we are trying to attract well-off people from Uttrakhand living in other Indian cities and abroad to consider reverse migration. We are providing information and encouraging them to create farm tourism (village tourism) units and resume agriculture activities in their Paitrik Gaon (Parental village).
