New Delhi, Dec 13: SAGG Eco Village, Kashmir’s pioneering regenerative eco-village enterprise, has been awarded Gold in the Sustainable Homestay category at the TOFT Wildlife & Nature Tourism Awards 2025, held on Friday at Bikaner House, New Delhi.
The TOFT Awards, supported by Sanctuary Nature Foundation, Outlook Responsible Tourism, and various State Tourism Boards, recognise outstanding initiatives in conservation-led tourism across the Indian subcontinent. The awards celebrate organisations and individuals creating genuine positive impact for nature, wildlife, local communities and sustainable travel.
SAGG Eco Village was honoured for its deeply regenerative approach to hospitality, which integrates ecological land stewardship, cultural preservation and livelihood creation within a human-scale village experience.
While recognising SAGG’s contribution, the jury observed, “SAGG Eco Village is Kashmir’s first regenerative homestay, blending ecology, culture and community values. With traditional architecture, renewable energy and zero-waste practices, it promotes regenerative living and local empowerment. Guests experience authentic Kashmiri hospitality while supporting land restoration and rural livelihoods.”
Founded by ecological entrepreneur and regenerative leadership coach Fayaz Ahmad Dar, SAGG Eco Village Kashmir has consistently championed low-impact natural architecture using mud, wood, clay and other locally sourced materials.
The initiative also focuses on regenerative farming and land-use practices that improve soil health, water cycles and biodiversity. Central to its model is community empowerment, involving local youth, women, artisans and farmers in meaningful livelihood opportunities, while preserving Kashmiri culture through traditional food, crafts and rural life.
Reacting to the honour, Fayaz Ahmad Dar said the award was a recognition of a decade of sustained effort rooted in Kashmir’s land and people. “We built SAGG as a living experiment in regeneration, to show that tourism can heal landscapes, empower communities and transform lives. This recognition belongs to our team, our supporters and everyone who believes in a different way of doing tourism in Kashmir,” he said.
The awards ceremony was attended by policymakers, conservationists, tourism leaders and media professionals, and underscored the growing global demand for nature-positive and community-centred tourism models that restore ecosystems rather than exploit them.
Speaking to Kashmir Convener, a spokesperson of SAGG Eco Village said that SAGG is Kashmir’s first regenerative eco-village enterprise offering farm stays, day experiences, group retreats, natural products and regenerative learning programmes.
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