NotOnMap Mystic Village in Chamba Receives IRTA 2024 Award
The Newz Radar
NotOnMap Mystic Village, located near Khajjiar in the aspirational Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, has been honored with the Indian Responsible Tourism Award (IRTA) 2024.
The village, belonging to the Gaddi tribe community, boasts five self-managed homestays run by self-help groups with limited resources, making it the sole village in the country to achieve this recognition. The village secured the Silver Award in Sustainable Leadership Homestay category.
Manuj Sharma, Co-founder of NotOnMap, expressed that this award is a testament to Mystic Village’s unwavering commitment to cultural preservation, responsible tourism, and sustainable practices. In 2020, the village had previously received the “Best of the Best Village” award from Trip Advisor, acknowledging its blend of tradition with sustainable tourism practices.
Kumar Anubhav, Founder of NotOnMap, emphasized that this achievement reflects Mystic Village’s continuous dedication to providing authentic cultural experiences of the Gaddi tribes of Chamba while contributing to the preservation of the local ecosystem.
NotOnMap Mystic Village, rooted in Chaminno Village in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, remains steadfast in promoting rural development through sustainable and responsible tourism. The initiative aims to bring socio-economic independence to rural communities across India.
The Indian Responsible Tourism Awards (IRTA) have been recognizing and applauding champions of ethical travel since 2016. IRTA aims to inspire and motivate the local fraternity, showcase replicable responsible tourism models, and disseminate information through various platforms. The judging process involves industry experts from India and internationally, ensuring a comprehensive and transparent evaluation of the nominees.
