In Nature’s Lap

Imagine a panorama of teeming green with undulating landscape encompassing your

horizon. Or a slice of nature still unscathed and unexplored, somewhere, where your

soul will find its ultimate solace in a silence, gravid with divine eloquence. While the

music of rustling leaves and wild birds will assuage the languid geometry of your travel

wary body. If you want to experience these natural rhapsodies book your tickets to the

North East bound flights of India. The eastern part of India is scenically blessed primarily

because of the Himalayas-the king of mountains. The eastern Himalayas are a treasure of

natural wealth, many of which are still unveiled. Initiatives are now being taken to bring

these idyllic spots within the reach of travel and tourism in order to give the travelers a

taste of sublime beauty as well as to develop the regions and the life of the inhabitants.

Efforts have been taken to enter the virgin areas using tourism, as tourism is a tool that

opens the global window in the highly neglected areas. The arrival of tourists helps to

eradicate the feeling of isolation and poverty, and the appreciation from visitors develops

a sense of pride in the local people for their local natural & cultural resources. The

economical benefit and administrative attention brought in by the visitors balances the

rich traditions and conservation initiatives by the local communities. While the process of

balance in resources initiate peace.

Most of these destinations are located near protected areas and are managed by the local

people and many such projects are in politically sensitive, naturally rich and cross-border

natural heritage sites:

Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam – contiguous to Bhutan: Innovation - Terrorism to

peace through Tourism.

Singalila National Park, Darjeeling hills – contiguous to Nepal: Innovation – The Red

Panda Trail – Eco Tours, volunteering & conservation holiday.

Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh

–contiguous to Myanmar: Innovation – Community conflict to community cooperation

and peace for conservation through Tourism.

Neora Valley National Park, Kalimpong hills – located at the tri-junction of West

Bengal, Sikkim and Bhutan: Innovation – Neora Valley Community Buffer Reserve to

reduce forest dependence of the local communities and thus pressure on the core area of

the park and open up avenues for nature-based tourism. Today Neora Valley attracts bird

and butterfly watchers from all over the world who bring a sustainable and alternative

livelihood opportunity to the locals.

Chilapata Wildlife Sanctuary, North Bengal Dooars – contiguous to Jaldapara

Wildlife

Sanctuary and Buxa Tiger Reserve: Innovation – Set up tourism demonstration project

and motivate and assist local communities to set up their own tourism business and

engage them in protection of corridor forests for range extension for wild animals and

restore the degraded migration passage for the animals.

Doing a commendable job in this area is Help Tourism, set up in 1991; the company

is a familiar name for eco- conscious tours and conservation efforts in the East and

Northeast India. Speakingon their initiatives, Asit Biswas, MD, Help Tourism said, “Our

initiatives have turned declared poachers and terrorists into protectors of nature and social

leaders for change towards better. Biodiversity protection has confirmed better habitat

for the wild. A radical change in the youth force, which now takes pride in conserving

their traditions & relate themselves globally, hence the end of isolation. The visit of

international travelers attracts the attention of local administration, who tries to bring

in development activities for the destinations.” Help has recently started a novel project

of implementing ‘tourism peace parks’ and have already established few such parks,

namely: Mount Narsing Peace Park in Sikkim, Guru Padmasmbhabha Peace Park in West

of Manas Biosphere Reserve, NCT(Noam-Chail-Teesta) Peace Park in North of Bengal,

Lalon Fokir Peace Park near Chilapata Wildlife Sanctuary in North of Bengal, Namdapha

Nalanda Peace Park in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh. These peace parks were launched in

order to promote Community Based Tourism (CBT) in the East Himalayas.

“The unique landscape and biodiversity of the East Himalaya, the several communities

of different origins and hence diverse cultural encounters, the destinations managed by

the local communities and the participation of the visitors in the day to day activities

of the local communities usually create an attachment of the visitors locally and reduce

the scope for negative outside influence on the local society. The visitors return as

brand ambassadors for the destinations,” enthused Mr.Sanjib Saha, Co-Founder of Help

Tourism, while illustrating on the scope and success of tourism in these remote areas.

Travelers from both India and abroad are increasingly taking interests in these still

uncharted naturals hubs and that’s resulting in both social and economic development

of the areas. M.S.Srinivasan and Sumitra Srinivasan of Mumbai are just enamored by

the virgin beauty of the Eastern Himalayas. “Both Kaziranga and Sunderbans were a

great experience. So were Nameri & Cherrapunjee. Any amount of reading about this

region or seeing films on it cannot do justice to it, as I believe it is something that has

to be seen and experienced to appreciate its unique grandeur. The rustic Jungle Camp in

Manas, Kaziranga jungle lodge, and your camp at Bali island just over the bund ( dyke)

on the banks of the river and in the village, were ideal and very charming and added to

the experience of being in the three world heritage sites! The way you have engaged the

Bodo people in protection of the wildlife in Manas deserves to be replicated in other parts

of India,” recalled the spirited duo. While Betty Meissner feels, “Manas and Kaziranga

were most magnificent; we enjoyed exploring the parks and were lucky to spot a number

of rhinos, elephants, deer, etc. We especially liked being at Florican with the young men

who are working so diligently to better themselves and their community.”

Historically, India has been a land of magical charms, in many capacities more than one.

But its natural wonders have baffled people from all over the world since ages. And now

with the new travel destinations in the Eastern Himalayas, the intrigue and assets of the

land of exotic natural beauty are just manifested in multiple measures. So, if your heart

yearns for solitude and solace, quietude and peace, the East Himalayas are waiting to take

you in its lap and balm you to bliss!!!