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Inspiring Conscious Travel
October 2023
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THE PRIVILEGE OF EXPERIENTIAL TRAVEL
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All Life is an experience. It shapes us and defines who we are in the end. Remember this childhood game? Name, Place, Animal, Thing; some of us went on to add fruit or food, movies and later even a brand to the list. To add more power to it, we would build all of it in a way that was linked. This connectedness, I believe, is the essence of tourism.
Travel gives us the privilege to choose an experience and mindful travel allows us to live with it for a longer time, transforming us in the process. When tourism moved from what we thought tourists should see of a country to understanding what they would like to see and how – experiential travel was established. I refuse to be cynical about the spread of experiential travel as random marketing jargon. It is for experience that we travel and the experience one seeks is a personal quest. Do we exclude monuments, performances, crafts, people or landscapes in search of the esoteric and extraordinary? Chosen consciously sights and stories become audio-visual backdrops of a compelling destination story. People and their stories are integral to experiencing a destination. In its best version experiential travel unleashes the full potential of a destination and that is what makes travel unforgettable.
Among new hotels and experiences, two boutique hotels in Nepal complete a trio to form a composite itinerary of Kathmandu and Chitwan along with our long-standing partner, Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge. Two stellar experiences – the award-winning Petrichor by TBY presently in Pondicherry and Kerala are all about community and climate resilient experiences, while we have a perfumier waiting to send you on an olfactory overload not far from Agra.
Shoba Rudra
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A good addition to the RARE collection, Nepali Ghar is in the heart of Kathmandu and stands as a testament to Nepal's rich heritage, seamlessly blending traditional architecture with contemporary comfort. Seto Ghar is a 200-year restored building that belonged to Nepalese Brigadier Colonel Pahalwan Singh Basnyat. Originally built during the Rana regime, a special team was set up to ensure careful restoration using locally sourced materials and skilled craftsmen to retain the aesthetics of the period.
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In line with RARE India's commitment to responsible tourism, Nepali Ghar strives to make a positive impact through heritage restoration of Seto Ghar and opportunities for local employment.
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CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK, NEPAL
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Sanctuary Resort is located on the edge of the park, tucked away from the busy areas in Amaltari on the western side and along the banks of the Narayani River. An open invitation to nature enthusiasts and nature lovers, Chitwan National Park lists over 500 species of migratory and endemic birds.
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Designed around the lives of the Tharu people who have made this region their home since the 10th century, Sanctuary Resort aims to give a Tharu village experience through architecture and landscape. Using traditional craftsmanship, sourcing materials locally and handcrafted designs to create links with the community, the resort blends in with the local landscape. Guests can partake in jungle activities ranging from safaris to canoeing and jungle walks.
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Kanha National Park is a dream for every wildlife enthusiast and has a significant population of royal Bengal tigers, Indian leopards, sloth bears, barasingha and Indian wild dogs. Bagh Villas | Kanha is just seven kilometres away from the Mukki forest entry gate, one of the three safari entrances to the park.
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Set on 15 acres of land, Bagh Villas | Kanha is a shared dream of three wildlife enthusiasts. The resort encompasses a lake on the periphery of which lie the cottages and luxury tents. A spa, infinity pool overlooking the lake, organic food, nature walks and biking in the natural trails are some of the highlights here.
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Explore the perfume capital of India with an 8th-generation fragrance house introducing Perfume Tourism for the first time in India. Exclusive private tours, showcasing Kannauj’s rich historic background opens doors to a new chapter in tourism to introduce you to the ancient city.
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Called the "Grasse of the East", Kannauj on the Ganges has some unlikely secrets hidden amidst nondescript ruins such as 100 Buddhist monasteries. Kannauj's perfume was first documented in the 6th century under the rule of a beloved monarch, Harshvardhan. Jahangir's queen, Nur Jahan's love for roses gave further impetus to the industry. Today, Perfume Tourism is a homage to a family that has dedicated itself to keeping the tradition alive and relevant.
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Petrichor by The Blue Yonder
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Petrichor offers responsible and sustainable travel experiences in India, connecting travellers with local communities and their stories. The company works with various community partners to create activities that bring economic, socio-cultural, environmental benefits, climate resilience and responsibility. Driven by a team from diverse backgrounds in conservation and climate crisis management, it aims to provide experiences that are a sensory connection to the place while leaving a lasting impact on travellers and destinations.
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One signature experience that is a favourite of us at RARE is the Nilavala. Here is a snippet from the feature by The Hindu, Metroplus edition.
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"Strong sunshine, breeze and water make for a dramatic setting as the boat sails past the nets towards the coastline on the opposite side. The mighty Periyar loops the island of Ezhikkara while Veeranpuzha (the river of the warriors) which holds the nets links the water bodies. In an hour of punting the sun turns a red ball that sinks fast into a rising twilight. The birds — terns, gulls, cormorants, crows, egret - begin their homeward journey as we too head for our dinner amid growing darkness and the sound of lapping waters.
The first stars appear in the sky above and lights flicker on the distant coastlines. The far-flung Chinese nets show up from the glow of the battery lights fitted on them. We slowly arrive on the deck of our fishing net, suffused with the light of a few candles in glass cases fitted on the posts"
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