10 Boutique Hotels That Are Big On Sustainability

Going on a vacation doesn’t have to hurt the environment. From a certified organic tea estate in Assam to a solar-powered eco-lodge in Jordan, these 10 properties care for their local ecosystems and communities, and offer you guilt-free holidays.

- Rashima Nagpal

1 Forsyth Lodge, MADHYA PRADESH

Set on 44 acres of fallow agricultural land resurrected with forests at the edge of Satpura Tiger Reserve, Forsyth Lodge is an eco-sensitive property that strives to create meaningful wildlife experiences. It has used only 10 per cent of the land for building, while the rest nurtures indigenous flora. Its 12 independent cottages are built out of cob, which ensures moderate interior temperature through the year, and are furnished with local artisanal products and furniture made from reclaimed wood. For the safety of the region’s wildlife, the property uses live fencing and not barbed wire; animals like wild boars, spotted deer, jackals, and leopards are sometimes seen on the premises. Greywater from the cottages is used to irrigate lily ponds, and the kitchen wastewater is released in a reed pond for recharging groundwater after natural filtration. Among the experiences offered by the hotel is a Junior Rangers Programme tailored for kids to explore the jungle. From ₹14,000 per night; forsythlodge.com

2 Stok Palace Heritage Hotel, LADAKH