India’s Supreme Court imposed a blanket ban on all tourism in the core areas of 40 tiger reserves across the country in July, prompted by a petition brought forth by animal-rights activist Ajay Dubey, head of a small NGO called Prayatna. The petition called on the Wildlife Act to protect critical tiger habitats from the […]
India
Visiting a Sikh Temple: How to Step Inside Respectfully
When traveling in India, I had the opportunity to visit a lively Sikh temple in New Delhi. It was a completely new and amazing experience. Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded in India’s Punjab region and based on the teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors. The Sikh philosophy focuses on the equality of all […]
Voluntourism: Do they really need our help?
In this month’s National Geographic Traveler, Costas Christ questions the ever-blossoming voluntourism industry in his article, The Giver’s Conundrum. As both a traveler and a staff member at a non-profit volunteer travel organization, this is something I think and talk about almost every day. The questions that come up are completely valid and, in my […]