SAGG Eco Village wins Gold at TOFT Wildlife and Nature Tourism Awards 2025
SRINAGAR: SAGG Eco Village, Kashmir’s pioneering regenerative eco-village enterprise, has been awarded Gold in the Sustainable Homestay category at the TOFT Wildlife and Nature Tourism Awards 2025, held at Bikaner House in New Delhi.
The TOFT Awards, supported by the Sanctuary Nature Foundation, Outlook Responsible Tourism and various state tourism boards, recognise outstanding conservation-led tourism initiatives across the Indian subcontinent. The awards honour enterprises that demonstrate measurable positive impact for nature, wildlife, local communities and sustainable travel practices.
SAGG Eco Village was recognised for its regenerative approach to hospitality that integrates ecological land stewardship, cultural preservation and livelihood creation within a human-scale village setting. Over the past decade, the initiative has emerged as a model for nature-based tourism in Kashmir, offering farm stays, immersive rural experiences and community-led regenerative learning.
Citing the reasons for the award, the jury noted that SAGG Eco Village is Kashmir’s first regenerative homestay, blending ecology, culture and community values. It highlighted the use of traditional architecture, renewable energy and zero-waste practices, and said the model promotes regenerative living and local empowerment while allowing guests to experience Kashmiri hospitality and support land restoration and rural livelihoods.
Founded by ecological entrepreneur and regenerative leadership coach Fayaz Ahmad Dar, SAGG Eco Village has focused on low-impact natural architecture using mud, wood, clay and other local materials, alongside regenerative farming practices aimed at improving soil health, water cycles and biodiversity. The initiative has also worked on community empowerment by involving local youth, women, artisans and farmers in sustained livelihood opportunities, while grounding visitors in Kashmiri traditions, food, crafts and rural life. Its hosting model prioritises small-scale, high-quality experiences over mass tourism, with an emphasis on ecological balance and community wellbeing.
“This award is a recognition of a decade of quiet, consistent work rooted in Kashmir’s land, culture and people,” Dar said at the ceremony. “We built SAGG as a living experiment in regeneration, to show that tourism can heal landscapes, empower communities and transform lives. This honour belongs to our team, our supporters and everyone who believes in a different way of doing tourism in Kashmir.”
The awards ceremony was attended by policymakers, conservationists, tourism professionals and members of the media, and underscored the growing global emphasis on nature-positive and community-centred tourism models that restore ecosystems rather than extract from them.
SAGG Eco Village said it would continue to expand its regenerative recreation, education and lifestyle programmes while strengthening its long-term vision of a culturally rooted and ecologically conscious future for Kashmir.
Established in 2012, SAGG Eco Village is described as Kashmir’s first regenerative eco-village enterprise, offering farm stays, day experiences, group retreats, natural products and regenerative learning programmes, with a focus on integrating ecology, culture and community development
