OFFBEAT HOLIDAYS

PIRAN ELAVIA, FOUNDER of Kipepeo (kipepeo.in), a Mumbai-based firm specialising in tours to Northeast India, says that understanding the culture of the destination is a prerequisite for being a responsible traveller. “The culture of the Northeast is very different from that of mainland India,” he shares. The 178 tribes here may come across as too liberal in terms of their clothing and lifestyle. Respecting their lifestyle choices is imperative for behaving responsibly. They also partake in a lot of meat, especially pork, and alcohol. Elavia says he has seen many instances of travellers getting offended by the food and drink that were offered to them.

Another way to be more sensitive to the local culture relates to photography. “In the Northeast, the older members of various tribes wear attractive facial tattoos and ornaments. While they make great subjects for pictures, tourists should ask for permission before clicking their photographs,” he says. Elavia also wants independent travellers to experience homestays as they provide a more immersive experience.

A prime example of the Northeast’s green credentials is Sikkim, which became India’s first fully organic state in 2016. Elavia explains that waste management is taken very seriously in the state.

Even in the smallest of shops you’ll find colour-coded dustbins for waste segregation. Travellers, too, must respect and observe such salient practices.

From left: It is important to respect the lifestyle choices of the region you are travelling to, like the culture and attire of the tribes in Northeast India; Sikkim, the country’s first organic state, takes waste segregation very seriously.