Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Sikkim (ECOSS)
Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Sikkim, (ECOSS) is a nongovernmental organization working to accomplish a mission of sustainability and conservation in the state of Sikkim. ECOSS has been involved in establishing the Sikkim Himalayan Homestay with support from UNESCO.
To develop the homestay destinations, ECOSS has worked closely with the villagers of the different destinations in building their skills and capacities for the sustainable tourism activity. Each village has a tourism management committee, which overlooks the operations and management of the tourism activities.
ECOSS networks with many institutions and individuals and promotes the Sikkim Himalayan Homestays. These rural tourism destinations serve as model sites for exposure visits. Groups are facilitated for learning the village tourism dynamics and operation modalities; ECOSS has developed a well designed package for such educational study tours for understanding the community based tourism model.
ECOSS also has a very popular volunteer and internship program, where national and overseas candidates work in such homestays to develop the skills and capacities of the local communities and equally have a rewarding experience.
SIKKIM :
Sikkim is the 22nd state of India, spread below Mount Khangchendzonga, (8598 mt.), the third highest mountain in the world.
Sikkim is diverse in culture and traditions. Three important communities living in Sikkim are the Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepali. It is also a 'biodiversity hotspot.' It has a rich flora and fauna some of which includes various orchids, rhododendrons, bamboo trees, and medicinal herbs. Sikkim is also home to the rare Red Panda. The state has many protected areas in the form of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. There are also beautiful sprawling tea estates, cardamom forests and rhododendron sanctuaries. Due to its diverse geographical features, adventure sports like mountaineering, trekking, river rafting, mountain biking and rock climbing are also popular in Sikkim. Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the map.
The nearest airport is Bagdogra which is serviced by airlines such as Deccan, Spice, Indian Airlines and Jet Airway originating from Kolkata and Delhi. There is a helicopter service from Bagdogra airport to Gangtok.
The nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri (NJP). There are direct trains from Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Delhi. These trains stop over at New Jalpaiguri (NJP) and then head towards Guwahati, the gateway to North East India. There are regular taxis available from the airport and the railway station that go to Gangtok and other tourist destinations of Sikkim. Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the map.
Foreign visitors need a Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit Sikkim, which is available at Delhi, Kolkatta and Siliguri. Domestic visitors are advised to travel with a valid identity proof as Sikkim is a border state. All the major tourist destinations of Sikkim have various categories of hotels which are well linked to homestay destinations.
Sikkim Himalayan Homestay program promotes ecotourism in rural areas of Sikkim, India. This is an endeavour to help the mountain communities of Sikkim to benefit from low-impact rural tourism. In this way, the cultural heritage of the communities and the beautiful environment around them can be protected for future generations.
The Sikkim Himalayan Homestay program is supported by UNESCO Paris, Norwegian Gov.t & the Principality of Andorra & implemented by Ecotourism & Conservation Society of Sikkim (ECOSS).
You can be part of this unique responsible tourism program and contribute to the process of preserving the natural and cultural heritage of this beautiful Himalayan Tourist destination.
