In the hectic schedule of daily routine, you did not get some time to connect with nature. Now, this is the right time to spend your vacations in the best eco-friendly destinations in India. 

Eco-tourism refers to connect yourself with nature. It is a form of tourism involving visiting brittle, untouched, and relatively undisturbed natural areas. It means responsible travel towards nature and helps in improving the well-being of the local people. 

If you want to regenerate your life, then here are some eco-friendly destinations where you can go and enjoy.

1. Coorg, Karnataka – Coorg is officially called Kodagu, is the most popular hill station of Karnataka. It occupies an area of 1,584 square kilometers in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. It is also known as “The Scotland of India.” It is the best place for all nature lovers. It is well known for its fascinating scenery and dense greenery. It is not only famous for its beautiful green hills but for the streams cutting right through them. The best time to visit Coorg is from September to June. At this time, it is neither rainfall nor too hot.

The best places to visit in Coorg are Abbey Falls, Madikeri Fort, Tadiandamol, Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Gaddige. There you can enjoy trekking and more adventures also.

2. Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim – It is a National Park and a Biosphere Reserve located in Sikkim and also known as Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve covering 328 square kilometers. The park gets its name from the mountain that is the third highest peak in the world i.e., Kangchenjunga that is 8,586 meters tall. It was recorded to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in July 2016 as the first “Mixed Heritage” site of India. This park contains a Tholung Monastery, a gompa located in the park’s buffer zone. It is acknowledged as one of the most sacred monasteries in Sikkim. 

The best time to visit this park is in April and May.

The availability of transport facilities is by railway as the nearest railhead is Siliguri Junction, airways as the nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport and roadways as the nearest highway is NH 31A.

Best park activity is trekking.  The most popular trek routes are Yuksom-Tshoka-Dzongri, Bakim-Dzongri-Thangshing-Samuteng-Goechala, Dzongri Base Camp-Rathong-Khangerteng, Thangshing-Lam Pokhari-KasturiOrar-Labdang-Tashiding.

3. Khonoma Village, Nagaland – It is the first green village in India that is located in Angami Naga village near about 20 km from the state capital, Kohima. The village is estimated to be around 700 years old that covers 123 square kilometers.  Khonoma is famous for its distinctive form of agriculture. The state bird, Blyth’s tragopan, a pheasant now nationally threatened, is reportedly found here. 

Nearest airport – Kolkata to Dimapur

Nearest railhead – Guwahati to Dimapur

Nearest highway – Shillong and Guwahati

Other attractions in Khonoma Village are Wokha, Dzuleke, War Cemetery, Dzukou Valley.

You can also enjoy trekking and bird watching.

4. Thenmala, Kerala – Thenmala is originated from the Malayalam word “theen” means honey, and “mala” means mountain. Theenmala Dam is the first planned eco-tourism destination in India. It is the largest irrigation project in Kerala. It is situated in the middle of the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary and covers 26 square kilometers. The waterfall called Palaruvi is a prime attraction nearby, and it increases the beauty of this place.

The best time to visit Thenamala is throughout the year.

Nearest railway head – Punalur

Nearest highway – Trivandrum and Punalur

Other nearby attractions are Kulathupuzha, Anchal, Punalur, Kamukumchery, and Courtallam in Tenkasi district. 

You can also relish boating, a rope bridge, trekking, mountaineering, biking, and a musical fountain.

5. Lahaul Spiti, Himachal Pradesh – The word ‘Lahaul’ is derived from the Tibetan word Lhahi-Yul meaning ‘country of the gods.’ It is situated on the route of the Manali-Leh route. It covers 13,841 square kilometers. The beauty of Lahaul and Spiti is snow, and some peaks never let it go, no matter what season it is. The rivers swiftly flow at the base of the mountains and carrying the water formed by melted snow. Here, the sky has a special shade of blue that cannot be seen anywhere. 

Best time to visit LahaulSpiti in April to August

Nearest Airport– Bhuntar, Kullu, Keylong

Nearest Railhead – Jogindernagar

Nearest Road – Manali to Keylong, Rohtang Pass

The best places to visit in Lahaul -Spiti are Tabo Monastery, Tabo Caves, Tabo Rock Art, Giu Mummy, Kibber, Key Monastery, Kaza, Dhankar Monastery, Rangrik, Langza, Chandratal Lake, Spiti River, Kunzum Pass, Rohtang Pass, and Nako.

You can enjoy more adventurous activities and trekking also.

6. Mawlynnong Village, Meghalaya – Mawlynnong is a village situated in the district of the Meghalaya state in North East India. If you are crazy about cleanliness, then you would love this place because it is known for its cleanliness, and it was awarded the title “cleanest village in Asia” by Discover India in 2003. It is also known as ‘God’s garden.’ In this village, the waste is collected in the dustbins made of bamboo, directed to a pit, and then used as manure.

It’s the best time to visit in the monsoons. 

Nearest airport –  Shillong

Nearest roadway – Shillong and Cherrapunji

Nearest railhead – Guwahati

The best places to visit in Mawlynnong Village are The Sky View and Mawlynnong Jungle.

So, here are some eco-friendly destinations where you can enjoy your vacations peacefully and calmly.