Our Story
How It Started
In 2005, Bachan Charitable Trust opened a women shelter for underprivileged women in remote villages of the Indian Himalayas. However, we soon realized (2007) that providing shelter was not enough to truly make a lasting impact on the livelihoods of these women. After researching the region, our founder found out an alarming number of young widows and victims of domestic violence.
Most women are young widows aged 19 - 25 with children to overlook without the possibility of marrying again because of the social prejudice.
Poonam decided to teach them how to fish rather than giving them the fish.
These women needed a sustainable income to support their families more than housing.
Sustainable Tourism
Through consultations with the women and other underprivileged tribes and communities in the area to devise a solution, our founder Poonam decided to put both her passion for traveling and social good to create Fernweh Fair Travel.
These unforgettable travel experiences utilize the values of sustainable tourism.
Working With Local Communities
Since Fernweh’s inception, we’ve worked with local communities to help train and develop their skills as artisans, tour guides, homestay hosts, and more.
Our purpose is to uplift rural communities in the Indian Himalayas and help guests leave transformed with a deep understanding of local culture and knowledge.
Our Objectives
Community Involvement
Our Team
Our Team is Consisting of our Whole Community.
Poonam
Poonam was born an explorer and has lived, travelled, and worked in many countries to feel the country's soul, aka slow travel. After working for the corporate world for many years, she decided to put her passion for travel and social help together to create Fernweh. She has a deep understanding of the power of travel.
Poonam is a consultant for community, adventure, and responsible tourism development. Her expertise is in product development, strategy planning, eco-accommodation, and transformational travel designing while positively impacting the communities and environment.
Poonam has a strong passion for adventure, people, nature, spirituality, culture, and permaculture. In addition, she is a volunteer firefighter in Germany. She lives between India and Germany.
Tulsi
Mrs. Tulsi is a wife of a retired army officer, an amazing cook and gracious cook. She has lived in many different places and has traveled nationally and internationally to various destinations. She has experienced beautiful cozy accommodation worldwide.
Tulsi is using her traveling knowledge to support and promote our locals. She overlooks all the groundwork. She loves gardening, spending time with her family, and cooking.
Laxmi
Laxmi a very strong lady who started her life in very humble conditions and is now supporting locals along with her sister Tulsi.
She will be your guide to the rural life of Garwhal (our village and handicraft programs) She is an amazing story teller and full of local wisdom.
Sumanto Aka Pluto
Born in the coal-mining town of Jharkhand, India, the climate crisis was a childhood reality for Sumanto. He moved around to different parts of India to pursue education, work in art-related fields, and travel. Disillusioned with the modern greed for a shiny but unsustainable lifestyle, he found himself in the laps of the Himalayas.
He began his journey of connecting with an ecologically viable life.
Now he is an essential element of our permacultural project.
Ankit & Bella
Ankit, a young man from the Himalayan Bhotia tribe, has done his hotel management and civil engineering. But unlike others, he does not want to migrate from the mountains.
We have taken him under our wings to fine-tune his capabilities in different aspects of operating our eco-retreat. He loves cooking, traveling, and spending time in nature.
