The tourist lodge under construction

Guwahati, May 2: Looking for a break from the grind? An ecotourism village nestled in the pristine lap of nature is closer than you imagine.

Experience exotic tribal life and unspoilt natural beauty in your own backyard — 15 km from Margherita town in Assam’s Tinsukia district.

The fruit of the efforts of a group of Singpho villagers, the cluster of traditional huts that comprise the resort at Inthong village offers a taste of all things Singpho, from the cuisine to the ambience. Traditional Singpho songs and dances will also be performed to entertain guests.

The ecotourism centre, to be completed in a month, has been developed over a five-bigha plot donated by the residents. The villagers have also formed the Singpho Eco Tourism Society to run the resort in a sustainable and profitable manner.

If the thought of being surrounded by lush tea gardens in the foothills of the lofty Patkai ranges do not appeal to you, wait till the village takes on the colours of the Dihing Patkai Festival held here every year.

“The project is the result of a collective effort made by the villagers to generate employment in order to become self-reliant. Over five bighas of land, where the centre is being developed, was donated by the villagers,” president of the society, Manjula Singpho, told The Telegraph.

“Apart from being the perfect destination to afford a glimpse into exotic tribal life, nature’s bounty is on full display here, girdled as it is by lush tea estates,” Singpho said.

The Singphos are scattered across the Patkai range, stretching from Assam’s Margherita subdivision and Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh to parts of Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China. Several British chroniclers have described the lifestyle of the tribe as “unique”.

“Special care has been taken to construct the rooms of the lodge in keeping with the basic architecture of Singpho huts made from bamboo and decorated with traditional artefacts typical of the community,” Singpho said. “The village will have everything to attract domestic as well as international tourists.”

She said the venture would not have been possible without the help of industries minister Pradyut Bordoloi and corporate major Dharampal Satyapal (DS) Group.

Besides extending financial help, the DS Group will train youths selected by the society on five-star hospitality, to equip them with the technical know-how required to run the centre.