Routes of Resilience | Part 1: Investing in Women | First Women-Led Trek in Tirthan Valley, India

Have you ever gone on a mountain trek with a female guide in India?
While it’s common in parts of the world with greater social equity, it’s still a rarity in rural India - where women have traditionally been kept at home, with little access to livelihood alternatives. The lack of resources and income opportunities makes them highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, especially on agriculture, against which they have little resilience.
This short documentary film explores community based tourism in the Indian Himalayas, with a focus on the journey of Tirthan Valley’s first group of rural women guides. In a male dominated sector, these local mountain women are challenging traditions and social norms, with the support of social enterprise Himalayan Ecotourism.
हिंदी में देखें: • बदलाव की राहें | भाग 1...
Conceptualised, shot and directed by: Shivya Nath
Edited by: Deepthi Ramdas
Supporting video: Himalayan Ecotourism
Music: Paper Planes, Beo One Hour North, Ziggy, Kevin P Holt, The David Roy Collective
About the series:
Routes of Resilience is a series of 10 short documentary films, that highlight community-oriented, equitable, and gender-responsive climate resilience solutions at a hyper-local level.
How you can support:
Go on a women-led trek: Reach out to Himalayan Ecotourism (www.himalayane...) to join a women-led trek in the Tirthan Valley of Himachal Pradesh.
Raise awareness: Share this mini documentary with social enterprises, non-profits, impact investors and tourism entities to raise awareness about how tourism can be used a means to create alternative livelihood opportunities in rural and remote areas.
Spread the word: Share this film on social media, leave your thoughts in a comment, and subscribe to this channel!
Let's connect:
Instagram: / shivya
Linkedin: / shivya
Blog: the-shooting-s...
Consultancy: climateconscio...

[@MelissaMartell-tb2wd]

It is so inspiring to see how women explore and guide other women and that they do not accept or conform to what is established in people's minds about what women should do, on the contrary, they do what they really want and win. their own income. Thank you Shivga for this wonderful documentary. Looking forward to seeing more!!!!

[@MalooAnurag]

Shivya - What a lovely film! Thank you for sharing this story of empowerment and resilience with the world. ❤❤

[@rishikeshvaidya6021]

Great initiative, Shivya! Unless we commit ourselves to women's financial, physical, emotional, and intellectual independence, all talk of growth and development will be hypocrisy. Not to mention, women trekking guides will also encourage more female trekkers to experience the beauty and adventure of trekking. More power to you and to the team of Himalayan ecotourism!

[@TheShootingStarBlog]

A win-win for sure. I hope this becomes the norm in tourism - sustainable, inclusive and meaningful for all involved.

[@DivyaHasti]

Heartwarming, and creating a positive impact. Kudos to the work that has been done by Himalayan Ecotourism, in empowering these women. More power to all these lovely people to continue to believe in themselves. ❤️

[@sharadadesai8438]

Super super superrr .. such pure love and happiness radiates from each of these women.. Initiatives like these are true celebration of women.❤️thank you so much for inspiring all of us. ❤️

[@anuvakakkar5433]

The rawness. The confidence. Love this so much.

[@manyadev]

Simply wonderful! Wishing the ladies much success ✨🍀

[@paragsatardekar]

Talking about women empowerment and making women empowered are two different things. Super happy to see this initiative doing the latter and seeing them so happy, makes it even more rewarding. Kudos 🎉

[@TheShootingStarBlog]

Loved their commitment and eagerness to learn. Hope this can inspire more such initiatives!

[@snehayadav96]

This is such a great initiative. I loved the candid thoughts shared by all these women, they all looked so happy doing what they do. :) And what a visionary thought- more women in outdoor can help make outdoors a lot more inclusive.

[@xhobdo]

That's Awesome, Shivya Thanks a lot for sharing. Great initiative 💚

[@karishma.gulati]

LOVE the topic - and so wonderfully captured! ❤

[@nicolenilakshi]

Love their confidence and heartwarming story 💚💚💚 Would love to experience this trek myself

[@ranjani12786]

Thank you sharing this story and inspiring us!

[@Aka-h6m]

This literally made me cry. I’m sure the heart of every woman who sees this is filled with so much love and blessings for you! Keep up the great work! Best wishes to you and the team :)

[@TheShootingStarBlog]

Aww, I hear you, and felt myself filling up the first few times I watched it too. There's so much we take for granted in our privileged lives!

[@KMinakshi]

Congratulations on this amazing work❤

[@divya299198]

Beautiful ❤❤❤❤ so inspiring

[@mauliedesaram6001]

This is so inspiring. Brilliant.

[@piquedpilgrim]

This is the most heartwarming thing I have seen on the internet in a long time! The excitement and happiness in their faces is just priceless! What a beautiful initiative ❤❤

[@TheShootingStarBlog]

I felt so happy with the way they expressed themselves on video, even though we only had a day to bond!

[@Bhasin-l2j]

🎉🎉🎉

[@PriyanshuProbalGoswami]

This Ian awesome initiative shivya di and awesome video

[@mohitgarg2814]

Amazing initiative.

[@GallivantingSoul]

This is amazing. More power to these women ❤ would love to join them someday whenever I visit. Thanks for sharing this.

[@TheShootingStarBlog]

That would be really awesome! Hope you love the experience as much as I did.

[@nehab4769]

Love, LOVE this !!! Beautifully done Shivya. I've already decided I'm going to join a trek with them (Himalayan ecotourism) the next chance I get! Vacationing for such an incredible cause would be the best thing ever 😍

[@TheShootingStarBlog]

So glad to hear that Neha! Such a win-win to have a socially meaningful holiday!

[@FirstPiper]

Beautifully shot and beautifully edited! ❤

[@TheShootingStarBlog]

Thanks so much, Deepthi's editing really helped bring my vision to life!

[@CuriousPavel]

Love that ❤

[@sayleemohan]

More power to you, Shivya and Himalayan Ecotourism ✨️🍃 This is path breaking and sooooo empowering! Would love to be led by these wonderful women some day soon :)

[@TheShootingStarBlog]

That would be amazing - keep me posted on when you go with them!

[@278rishabh]

Shivya, thank you for sharing this beautiful initiative with all of us. I can't wait to go trekking with these amazing women. Thank you for your phenomenal work! Can't wait to see the other parts. ❤❤

[@TheShootingStarBlog]

For now, it's women only groups, but I hope that'll change in the future! Excited to bring the other parts to live soon!

[@278rishabh]

@@TheShootingStarBlog That's brilliant, will share with all my girl - friends ❤❤

[@deepthi91able]

Such a beautiful initiative. More power to all these women and hoping more women join the gang soon 🙂

[@TheShootingStarBlog]

Hope such initiatives become the norm rather than the exception in tourism!

[@rahulsanpui7982]

What a wonderful story. Nicely shot, beautifully edited. Kudos to the entire team. More power to all those wonderful hardworking women ❤

[@TheShootingStarBlog]

@@rahulsanpui7982 So glad how this little film all came together! I hope more people will learn about this pioneering trekking opportunity and support them!

[@mohammaddanish8858]

This is an amazing initiative ❤, not only will this open new horizons for these local women but also create a beautiful experience for women travelers . This needs to be replicated at many places in the Himalayan region. Congratulations for covering such an inspiring story Shivya 🎉

[@TheShootingStarBlog]

@@mohammaddanish8858 And indeed many places around the world!

[@suchetamann3410]

Absolutely love to see how joyful these women are about this opportunity! Such a brilliant initiative. Amazing work,Shivya! ✨🫶🏻🌻

[@TheShootingStarBlog]

Feel so privileged to have the opportunity to document it.