Sikkim

Gangtok-based sisters Manisha and Bhavana Sharma, along with their childhood friend Saran Rai, run an offbeat travel company called Tag Along. Together they’re building a zero-waste, sustainable solution to tourism in Sikkim.

Sikkim farmer Dilli Maya Bhattarai switched from chemical to organic farming in 2014, which has helped her earn up to Rs 5 lakh a year!

Sangay Lama from Sikkim has worked with the Tsomgo Pokhri Sanrakshan Samiti since 2008 to clean the Tsomgo Lake, a popular tourist destination, and establish a robust waste management system

While official records of his life remain sparse for the most part, the Sikkimese government recognised Trilochan Pokhrel’s contributions with the LD Kazi Award for Democratic Movement in 2018.

“Being a teacher, I am always concerned about issues related to the village where I work. This initiative inspires cleanliness, as well as revenue,” says 35-year-old Mathematics teacher Lomas Dhungel.

Check this out - you cannot enter this Sikkim village with a disposable plastic bottle. You may choose to drink the water and dump the bottle in a bin, or transfer water into one of the reusable water bottles available at almost every shop!

The founders had a simple idea. You should be able to enjoy scenic trips to Gangtok, Siliguri, Darjeeling, Nathu-La and Bhutan⁠—without paying through the roof for a ride!

Ankita Kumar and Sharanya Iyer take us through their epic month-long journey through the towns and villages of Sikkim, a much under-explored travel destination in India.

Passionate about protecting natural history, Sandeep Tambe's proactive policy-making has also been instrumental in making Sikkim one of India's most successful states in implementing MGNREGA.

"'Aapno gaav, aap banao'—which means 'you build your village', was adopted as the mantra,” says Raj Yadav, the man behind the transformative project.