Raviraj Soman here. Can I be honest? I love a good bed after a day in the dust.
For a long time, "Eco-friendly" meant sleeping on a hard mat and showering with a bucket. Not anymore. India's safari landscape has evolved, giving birth to what I call "Conscious Luxury."
What Makes a Lodge "Sustainable"?
It’s not just about not washing your towel every day. When we at The Mammoth Project vet a lodge, we look for:
- Local Staffing: Does the money stay in the village? Are the naturalists and staff locals?
- Construction: Is it built with local mud and stone, or imported concrete? Does it blend in or stand out?
- Water & Waste: Do they recycle water? Do they compost? Is plastic banned?
- Rewilding: Have they restored the land they occupy?
The Heavy Hitters
Pugdundee Safaris, for instance, has set the benchmark. Their lodges in Kanha and Pench are built with virtually zero footprint. They use local architecture, employ local tribals, and serve local cuisine.
Then there are places like Jamtara Wilderness Camp, where you can sleep under the stars on a 'Machan' in a farmer's field, directly paying the farmer for protecting his crops from wildlife, reducing human-wildlife conflict.
Why It Matters to You
When you stay at these places, your vacation becomes an act of conservation. You prove that a live tiger is worth more than a dead one. You encourage the local community to protect the forest because their livelihood depends on it.
So, enjoy that 500-thread-count sheet. You’ve earned it, and so has the planet.
Sleep well,
- Raviraj Soman
