Eco-sensitive zones are filled with tourist destinations that have for long been popular in India or are quickly rising to that status. Ecotourism can be defined as a responsible tourism to the natural areas which is marketed as environment conserving and improving the local people itself.

Biodiversity is not the only goal of ecotourism, another important of it includes environmental preservation. It encourages responsible travel, which can be started by minimizing environmental harm, encouraging environmental improvement, and encouraging environmentally friendly lifestyles.

Ecotourism is a new approach wherein travel to natural areas to appreciate the cultural and natural history of the environment, taking care not to disturb the integrity of the ecosystem, while creating opportunities that make conservation and protection of natural resources advantageous to the local people. In short, ecotourism can be categorized into ‘nature-based’ and ‘ecologically sustainable’.

Ecotourism in India has addressed many issues, including promotion of delicate and undisturbed nature, and connecting distant areas with larger population.

India’s eco-sensitive zones are filled with tourist destinations that have for long have been popular in India or are quickly rising to that status.

Ecotourism is the tourism that is ‘marketized’ as responsible traveling to the countryside, preserving the nature, and improving the life of the inhabitants of the area.

The goal behind ecotourism is to make tourists aware about the environment and its prevention. Tourists will learn about being responsible during their travels so that the harm people cause to environment during travels is minimized.

Ecotourism centres on what proponents term as socially accountable tourism, individual development, and conservation of a destined habitat. It is also sold as ‘green travel to the natural areas and betterment of the localities benefit.

All of this can be referred to as ecotourism. When travel fails to meet any of these constituents, the travel is not termed as a real ecotourism venture. The tourist destinations that offer ecological and ecologically sustainable ecotourism are the following places:

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is situated in Norther India. Its popular city Shimla belonging to the state of Himachal Pradesh is one of the best places to visit in case you admire mountains. But Himachal Pradesh is suffering due to rapid commercialization. Two years ago in 2023, the state government and Himachal Pradesh Ecotourism Society promoted eco- tourism in 11 sites such as Kasol, Kheer Ganga and Sumarupa, Sojha in Seraj, Narkanda in Kotgarh and Shogi camping site besides Potter Hill camping site. Ecosphere is a community that works in the Spiti Valley and emphasises volunteer travel and sustainable livelihood. They also promote positivity to the place and its people. Another is the Ecotourism Society that contributes to community-based practices aiding in the conservation of the rich biodiversity in Himachal Pradesh.

HIMACHAL PRADESH
Eco-friendly attractions

• Saurabh Van Vihar
• La Himalaya Expeditions
• Adventure Explorer
• Kamyana Hilltop
• Neugal Park
• Kheer Ganga
• Bir-Billing
• Chail Sanctuary

Eco-friendly accommodations

• Suro Treehouse Resort
• Kainaat-A Riverside Homestay
• Nirvana Hamta Retreat
• The Himalayan Village
• Khem Bharti Homestay
• Sanjiv Aira Home Retreat

Ecosphere is a community that works in the Spiti Valley and emphasises volunteer travel and sustainable livelihood and Ecotourism Society contributes to community-based practices aiding in conservation of the state’s rich biodiversity.

Odisha

Odisha is known for its sea-beaches and old temples. It is most well known for its Jagannath Temple and other age-old Hindu temples located around the state. The Lingaraj Temple, devoted to Hindu God Shiva, was built around the eleventh century and is now almost one thousand years old. Odisha is one of the most culturally vibrant and yet one of the lesser developed states in India. The state also has number of tribal group along the coastline.

ODISHA
Eco-friendly attractions
• Chilika Lake
• Puri Beach
• Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary
• Simlipal National Park
• Satkosia Gorge
• Debrigarh

Eco-friendly accommodations
• Swosti Chilika Resort
• OTDC Pathanivas-Rambha
• Panacea eco resorts
• Blackberry Eco Resort, Bagda

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is a state traversed by the Himalayas and many of Hindu pilgrimag sites are found here. Rishikesh, a toponym of one of the biggest centres on the study of yoga was “popularised” by the trip of the Beatles in 1968. The city is the home of the evening Ganga Aarti, a spiritual congregation, sacred Ganges River, next to Varanasi. The 2900 square kilometres state-owned Jim Corbett national park inhabits the fearful Bengal tigers among the native animals. These days ecotourism has become a major constituent of Uttarakhand. The state is filled with some of the most amazing homestays and ecolodges. The state is well loved because it provides a biodiversity hotspot and is surrounded by high mountains and magnificent terrains, full of dense forests and blue water bodies.

UTTARAKHAND
Eco-friendly attractions

• Corbett National Park,
• Nainital Valley of Flowers,
• Garhwal Region

Eco-friendly accommodations

• Ecolodges in Jayalgarh, Haridwar and Auli
• Vatsayana, a Himalayan Boutique Resort
• Hidden Valley Camp and Resort
• Homestay in Bhimtal

Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is the Easternmost state of India and is known for its natural beauty and its mountains. The environmental effects of this least explored state are most of the time negative through the popularity of the same. Future Generations is contributing to the conservation through its Ngunu Ziro and Green Pastures projects focusing on ecotourism.

Local residencies and the preservation of ancient tribal culture is being promoted by them. Such institutions are also doing their best to create awareness to their tourists of their role towards the destination.

It seems that the state of India represents a green spot on the Indian map. Beautiful in its way, the state has 26 isolated mountain valleys, culture rich indigenous tribes which are attractive to the travellers.

ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Eco-friendly attractions
• Golden Pagoda
• Tawang
• Mayodia Pass
• Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary

Eco-friendly accommodations
• Non-profit Homestays, Thembang
• Homestays, Ziro
• Toshi Palace, Aalong

West Bengal

West Bengal is the Land of Contrast with its misty mountains, pristine beaches, culture heritage and places of religious value. This state does not disappoint travellers by giving them beautiful greenery and wavy rivers. The area of rosogollas has history that is also very rich and soul captivating. West Bengal never goes out of the list of travellers who are seeking surreal food. The finger-licking with Government of West Bengal is on a quest to make tourism more responsible sustainable travel procedures, and community awareness. The government is also encouraging the rural tourism whereby the government collaborates very closely with the local communities and also conducts fair benefit sharing.

WEST BENGAL

Eco-friendly attractions

• Dakshineswar Kali Temple
• Santiniketan
• Belur Math
• Sunderban Tiger Reserve
• Neora National Park, Darjeeling
• Victoria Memorial
• Howrah Bridge

Eco-friendly accommodation

• Eco-Adventure Resorts, Purulia
• Hollong Eco Resort
• Jhore Jole Jangole, Eco-Heritage Resort
• Seventy-Six Miles Homestay, Siliguri
• Blue Homestays, Doars Dilpali Home cum Farm Stay

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is a state which ranges between the coast and plateau and mountains extending along the east and western ghats. The two sets of mountain ranges and hotspots of ecology have a wide variety of plants and animals. They provide good nutrition to different types of vegetation including the evergreen, moist deciduous, dry deciduous, dry evergreen, bamboo brakes, grasslands to littoral and forests. Besides, the state has a 1,000km long coastline hosting a diversity of the ecosystems such as the beaches, lagoons, mangrove, and mudflats as well as coral reefs. The state has rich avifauna, and many bird species migrate to the state in large number with a lot of other species. The state has a large protected area network comprising three biosphere four reserves, tiger reserves, five national parks, as many as 15 wildlife sanctuaries, 15 bird sanctuaries and two conservation reserves.

if you are a nature lover, Tamil nadu will not disappoint you with its dense forests, waterfalls and hill stations of Western ghats and Eastern ghats. Not only these, Tamil Nadu also has bird sanctuaries, sea beaches.

Most ecosystems found in the state include beaches, lagoon, mudflats and coral reefs with a coastline of 1,000km. The state wetlands on the inland receive numerous bird species of far away regions.

TAMIL NADU

Eco-friendly attractions

• Annamalai Sanctuary
• Avalanche Lake
• Kodaikanal
• Chennai Turtle Walk
• Kanyakumari Beach

Eco-friendly accommodation

• Green Tree Hotel
• Noahs Nest Tree House Chettinadu Mansion
• Johns Wooden Cottages

Kerala

Kerala, also known as the God’s Own Country, is witnessing a heavy surge of foreign and domestic tourists. It is the first state in the country to carry out planned eco- tourism. The ghats in the state are home to many endangered wildlife species. The state, situated in the heart of the Western Ghats, is ranked as one of the top 18 biodiversity hotspots in the world. The state is littered with hill towns, plantations, backwaters, endless gardens, tea estates, and distinctive biological environments. Currently, the Thenmala Ecotourism Programme is working towards the conservation of wildlife in the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary. This apart, the Kerala Tourism is efforts taking in raising about sustainable awareness tourism through various community services.

KERALA

Eco-friendly attractions

• Thusharagiri Waterfalls
• Thenmala ecotourism site Periyar National Park
• Konni
• Hill Station Farmhouse Stay
• Chembara Peak
• Silent Valley National Park

Eco-friendly accommodations

• Holistic Eco Resort
• Ela Ecoland Munnar
• Wayside Cottage
• Golden Fern Resort
• Green Court Cottages