These eco friendly luxury hotels make any trip to India unforgettable!
By Debbie Fletcher
Unfortunately, the travel industry in the Indian sub-continent is a bit behind the rest of the world in terms of its eco-friendly and ethical credentials, causing headaches for conscious holidaymakers.
According to Ambika Behal writing for Forbes: “There are no official records of multinationals entering the sustainable business market, and zero reliable figures on any gender involvement in environmentally focused touristic enterprises in the country.”
Exploring such a fascinating country of diverse culture and cuisine would no doubt be more pleasant for most travellers if they knew they didn’t have to worry about hotels tossing out waste improperly, exploiting locals by paying them slave wages, and contaminating areas of natural beauty with chemicals, for example.
Luckily, there are now some eco-friendly hotels pushing ahead and filling a gap in the tourism market. They’re offering fully-sustainable travel in the kind of beautiful surroundings luxury travellers expect. In fact, some Indian eco hotels have gotten so plush, they’ve been featured in the likes of Tatler, Vogue and the FT’s How To Spend It.
Here, I’ve found some of the best eco friendly luxury hotels in India. I think they’ll please even the most demanding ‘green’ guests!
5 Indian Sustainable Luxury Hotels
1. Coconut Lagoon in Kerala
Kerala has long been a beloved travel destination for nature lovers, and the Coconut Lagoon in Kerala definitely caters to them. The property is only accessible by boat, making it a rare escape from the world.
The hotel has organised a fortnightly village clean-up, where staff venture out into the local community to clean away trash. There’s a solar-powered boat, a biomass digester, and 8 acres of rice cultivation on-site. And here’s a fact we love: the Vechoor cow, the smallest breed in the world, was virtually saved from extinction thanks to a conservation effort by the hotel!
Accommodation is provided in three forms – Heritage Bungalows, Heritage Mansions and Private Pool Villas. No two villas are the same. They have different antique beds, cupboards and chests of drawers that they sourced from traditional homes. These antiques were made by the famed craftsmen of the region, too.
Reflecting Kuttanad’s vibrant culture, this resort also features Kerala homes constructed in the centuries-old ‘tharavadu’ style. These constructions were transplanted from the past and preserved to perfection.
The lake it’s on is home to a plethora of natural life, with rare species of plants, butterflies, birds and sea creatures. You can discover them all here from Coconut Lagoon with the help of the resident nature guides.
While the hotel offers the perfect marriage of luxury and sustainability, it’s modern, too. You’ll find great wifi, coffee and tea makers, and all the mod-cons you crave.
Located in: Kerala
One of the best eco friendly luxury hotels in India for: Spotting local fauna. Admiring local artisanship.
2. Dune Eco Group
The business outlook of the Dune Eco group is summed up in its name. Now 15 years old, the chain’s highlight is the Eco Village and Spa near Pondicherry.
It consists of 55 uniquely designed bungalows. Each one features an emphasis on organic living, nature and purity of mind, body and soul. How so, you may ask? Well, with solar-heated water, reclaimed timbers and a waste water treatment plant, for a start. But that’s not all!
All the delicious food here is prepared using organically-prepared fruits, herbs, spices and vegetables. And the spa offers Ayurvedic treatments, yoga and meditation as well as many alternative therapies. These include Watsu, a unique form of aquatic bodywork.
The hotel group also supports a charitable trust offering free tuition to underprivileged young adults. We love that it gives something back socially as well as environmentally!
Located in: Pondicherry
One of the best eco friendly luxury hotels in India for: Organic and Ayurvedic spa treatments.
3. Yogamagic Indian Retreat
Beach lovers have long lusted for the white sands of Goa. And the Yogamagic Indian Retreat can fulfil that primordial need for sun and surf – in a sustainable environment!
Tented eco-chic lodges are set in a lush venue surrounded by a water creek and rice paddy fields. The tents themselves feature solar halogen lighting, natural composting toilets and waste management, using natural microorganisms.
Of course, you can enjoy daily yoga and meditation classes here. But what you’ll look most forward to are the meals! It’s all vegetarian, and can include anything from breakfast bowls bursting with fresh mango, muesli and yogurt, to freshly poached eggs on a bed of spinach and masala tomatoes.
Located in: Goa
One of the best eco friendly luxury hotels in India for: Beach lovers, of course!
4. The Blackbuck Lodge
Looking for an Indian safari? The Blackbuck Lodge will provide! This beautiful Indian eco features bungalows made from local and natural materials. They’re generous in size and feature large beds, outdoor showers, and private verandas.
But the real feature here is the wildlife! Set next to the Velavadar National Park, here you will find many exotic species. These include wolves, hyenas, countless birds, nilgais and of course, black bucks.
Food here is superlative, and is prepared with fresh, organic fruit, herbs and vegetables grown on the premises. Enjoy a traditional Indian curry accompanied by a spicy chai, or dig into something lighter, like a fresh salad.
Located in: Velavadar National Park
One of the best eco friendly luxury hotels in India for: Animal lovers
5. SwaSwara
We love this hotel! SwaSwara is a luxury yoga based resort set in a lush jungle. And its mission? Promoting ecological tourism in India, and making its guests healthier and more relaxed.
The resort features organic materials in its construction and decor. It also has an organic farm and a swimming pool, which runs on harvested rainwater. SwaSwara is proud of its eco practices, which include composting, rainwater harvesting, and recycling wastewater in the garden. They even make use of biogas, and prepare all their healthy, yummy food with local fresh produce grown organically.
Not too keen on yoga? No worries! Other activities here include hiking, kayaking, taking clay pottery classes from local artisans at the resort’s arts centre, and enjoying the spa.
Located in: Gokarna
One of the best eco friendly luxury hotels in India for: Yoga lovers.
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