Help Tourism

The Sunderbans are quiet, remote, dark – boring for many, a lifetime experience for others. Here’s what Elizabeth from the US experienced:

The night before we left though, is seared into my brain. Dev (our guide) took us to the local village ceremony. Since noise travels for miles there, each morning we heard music at about 5 AM …… We inquired where the music was coming from …… He told us that it was a local village ceremony that was going on for a few days. On the last night, he asked if we wanted to go to the ceremony. It was a 45 minute walk from the camp to the village. A little dog ( they are all over the place) followed us the entire way, which was a very brave thing to do since almost everyone has a dog near their little thatch hut and the dogs serve as “alarm systems” challenging anyone or any dog that passes by the outside. Thank the Lord it was a semi full moon, and our guide had a “torch” which was really a big flashlight”

It was surreal. Mist coming off the water, the tiny fishing boats anchored in the water right off the path, thick trees coming out of the water, thatched huts all around. What I could conjure up was Japan circa 1700. And, the anticipation that a tiger could emerge at any moment . Thinking back on it, it was a “bit” life threatening but I NEVER think that anything BAD can happen – and figuring I was with my guide – what could happen? As it happened, we were completely safe …. And the visual of that night it right up there with the great moments of life … the Pyramids ( I was in the Mena House) , the Great Wall of China ( I trekked the 6 mile section of it), the Peruvian Amazon ( spent 4 nights in the THICK OF IT) , the Taj Mahal, Varanassi ( I can go on but you get the picture) . It was an OH MY GOD……

Once we got to the village – the people were incredulous. We were a hit!! We were in the middle of nowhere at a local festival -[...]

On the afternoon of the 10th of February 2008, one of our groups was lucky enough to see a tiger swimming across the Khonakhali Creeks near Dobanki Watch Tower. Tanmoy Ghosh, our field guide, had his camera at hand.

A Tiger symbolizes unlimited power: Durga riding a Tiger indicates that she possesses unlimited power and uses it to protect virtue and destroy evil.’ Durga Ashtotram

‘Although they fear Tiger attacks, the people of Sunderbans have turned the Tiger into an object of veneration……. Montgomery concludes that Sunderbans has been protected by the Tigers who, watching over the mangrove wilderness, prevent humankind from destroying their own habitat.’ Howard Mansfield ‘Spell of the Tiger’.

‘Better to live one year as a Tiger, than a hundred as a sheep.’ Madonna

‘From the Oyster to the Eagle, from the Swine to the Tiger, all animals are to be found in men and each of them exists in some man, sometimes several at the same time. Animals are nothing but the portrayal of our virtues and vices made manifest to our eyes, the visible reflections of our souls. God displays them to us to give us food for thought.’ Victor Hugo

‘The living self has one purpose only: to come into its own fullness of being, as a tree comes into full blossom, or a bird into spring beauty, or a Tiger into luster.’ D. H. Lawrence

Coming back from Sunderbans and Kaziranga, our South Indian friend Jayanand send us some flowers:

I must compliment Help Tourism on arranging an exemplary holiday for the three of us in the Sunderbans and Kaziranga. Both parks were magical, the accommodation comfortable, and the food was first class. My friends & I were also struck by the punctuality with which all safaris started, whether by boat, jeep or elephant. Well done & I will recommend you to all my friends as the organisation to use for cultural and nature tours to the East.

Thank you, Jayanand. We will be most happy to host you or any of your friends, anytime.

The Outlook Traveller Magazine’s February 2008 edition highlighted “the best tourism initiatives in India”. And we are proud that our community tourism initiatives have been recognized as well:

More often than not tourism ends up being about large tour operators making profits. Help Tourism, which operates tours in Bengal, Assam, Arunachal and a few other Northeastern states, is one tour operator which has tried to change that by involving local communities in tourism initiatives. Communities are involved in the entire range of tours operated by Help Toursim – from wildlife tours to culturual and heritage tours. The greatest impact has been in the area of ecotourism. Help Tourism has worked with villagers in Buxa Tiger Reserve, Garumara National Park, at Bhalopahar in the Dalma forest range – helping them set up wildlife lodges. The most successful of those projects has been the Sunderbans Jungle Camp on Bali Island – which has provided local poachers-turned-conservationists with a livelihood, and has set an example for sustainable development in this fragile delta. Help Tourism has also set up the Association for Conservation and Tourism (www.actnowornever.org) through which they share their expertise in responsible tourism with others.”

We ourselves could not have described our vision and mission better. Thanks a lot, Outlook Traveller.

“Promoting Waste-free tourism destinations”

A workshop on Waste-Management was held on 12th of January 2008 at Sajnekhali Mangrove Interpretation Center in the Sunderbans. The initiative of ACT-Association for Conservation and Tourism and Help Tourism was supported by Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, BNWCS – Bali Nature and Wildlife Conservation Society, WWF India Sunderbans Programme, WPSI – Wildlife Protection Society India, ICRT – International Center for Responsible Tourism India and IAC – Inner Asian Conservation.

The programme was part of Mr. Klaus Schaette’s visit to the East Himalaya.

The workshop was well attended by approx. 30 participants. A broad spectrum of waste related topics have been discussed and a mainstreamed effort to address tourism related waste in the Sunderbans was agreed upon. Mr. Schaette agreed on the proposal to supervise a demonstration project at Sunderbans Jungle Camp in autumn 2008.

Read the full summary of the workshop