INDIAHIKES

My understanding of the brief

To propose solutions to bring out essence and values of brand and context across Indiahikes community campuses basecamps in the Himalayas.

Design: how basecamp will look

Community: building connections among trekkers

Overall experience: activities offered at basecamps by organization

BRAND RESEARCH

Over 16 years ago, Indiahikes founders, Arjun Majumdar and Sandhya UC, started Indiahikes with one simple belief — Everyone Must Trek. They wanted to do this by bringing out information about treks, and by setting the right spirit of trekking in India.

Today, they are India’s Largest Trekking Community, with over 35,000 trekkers joining the Indiahikes Experience every year.

VALUES

Transformative Trekking

Indiahikes focuses on conciously transforming life as changing the trekkers mind, body and soul and make them feel connected with nature.

Sustainability

They are committed to minimizing their environmental impact through one of their practice 'Green Trails' which is their key component.

Safety

Safest organisation in India, providing innovative techniques and advanced equipments to the trekkers.

VISION

Accessibility:

They want to make trekking accessible for everyone which also includes children and senior citizens. "Everyone must trek"

Wants to give out information:

They want to give information regarding everything like about the place, nature, essence of that space, how and where to trek etc. So that trekkers can trek on their own.

Raithal

Raithal Village is perched at an elevation of 1,800 meters, in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.

It is popular among seasoned trekkers as it is the base camp to Dayara Bugyal.

It is about 38 kms from main Uttarkashi city. Village is well connected by motorable road.

It is Indiahikes basecamp. It's the place from where trek to Dayara Bugyal starts. We did our primary research there, and spent 2 days - analysing the problems and understanding the needs of trekkers as well as people working there.

CONCEPT

Proposing a strategy by introducing bird sounds and calls of local birds from Dayara Bugyal Trek region into Indiahikes Basecamp.

This auditory experience aims to make trekkers more mindful of their surroundings and foster a deep connection with nature before they set foot on the trail.

In addition to this I want to install information panels which will help trekkers to know about the birds which they don't know and their sounds and calls pattern which will be played in a way that it will remind trekkers of daily activities like the breakfast time or meeting time so on.

Why birds ?

With over 900 avifauna species, the Himalayas is a biodiversity hotspot. 80% of the bird species found in India call the Himalayas home.

A Zoological Survey of India points out multiple factors:

1. The presence of different varieties of intact forests that are important for breeding.

2. The presence of wetlands at higher altitudes and river ecosystems at the lower levels.

3. Access to agricultural land, which helps provide birds with food, especially during winters.

Similarities between birding and trekking

How Indiahikes resonates with spirit of birding?

Most trek routes pass through minimal or no population or any other disturbances. As a result, bird species thrive in those regions due to abundant food, natural forests, and no threats or disturbances from humans - Trekker from Indiahikes.

Thoughts of trekkers

Birding is a way of engaging with nature. I find satisfaction in being able to identify the bird species around me on treks (and otherwise), and in knowing more about them - their calls, their songs, their behaviour. Any nature-lover would understand this.
Birdwatching is an activity that is very personal and ephemeral. There is only you and nature.

Vector images of birds

The Himalayan Monal is the state bird of Uttarakhand and holds cultural significance in the region.

Himalayan Griffon Vulture near the activity area and briefing hall, symbolizing vigilance and preparedness

Chir (Himalayan Bulbul) near the storage area, ehhancing the sense of community and liveliness. Chirs are active and vocal birds, often seen darting among the branches of trees and shrubs.

Khalij Pheasant in the dining area, accompanied by information about its ecological role and significance.

Cheer Pheasant near the tents, providing trekkers with a sense of tranquility and connection to nature.

Information panel layout

Area of intervention