But naturally

To appease the travel junkies seeking romance in ruins, nearly every crumbling edifice has long been converted into a hotel. While the morphing of white elephants into cash cows has enriched the owners, unsated tourists have moved on, hunting for fresh sites. In keeping with the current eco-friendly zeal, they've zeroed in on the boondocks. So, be it the unexplored pine forest in Himachal Pradesh, a Kumaoni village or an island in the middle of the Brahmaputra river, the emerging haute destinations are offering a unique experience (often devoid of 5-star frills), even as they provide a new lease of life for the people who helped tap the tourism potential in these places.

Take the Pine Hills Eco-Camp at Barog, near Shimla. Set up by two retired army officers, the camp offers an adrenaline rush in the form of rappelling, rock climbing and an army-style obstacle course, along with a fresh slice of nature. You'll be among the first to sample the charms of the Chunjri Reserve Forest, which is one of the few sites leased recently for eco-tourism by the Himachal government.

Major General (retd) Harwant Krishnan admits that most of his life's savings have been ploughed into the project, but has no regrets. Given that the tents are priced at Rs 3,333 a night per couple, a growing stream of discerning guests could soon spell a neat profit for the founders. Close to Chandigarh, Pine Hills also offers an interesting 'jungle lore' capsule. The aim is to educate visitors about the local flora and fauna as well as responsible tourism. For details, visit www.pinehillsecocamp.com.

Then there's the Himalayan Village Sonapani in Nainital district (www.himalayanvillage.com). The retreat in this little-known village was set up by Ashish Arora, who gave up the corporate rat race when the going was good. Located on a ridge overlooking Almora, the place offers it all—bucolic living, adventure sports and scenic beauty. Besides, there are a host of events ranging from a photography trail to a yoga and philosophy workshop that you can time your visit around.

The best part is that Arora and his partner did not have to rob a bank to buy the 20 acres of orchardcum-forest land. "The venture was not capital intensive as we leased the land," says Arora. Also, instead of expensive materials like stone, the retreat's 12 cottages used homemade mud bricks, cutting costs by 74 per cent.

In the east, La Maison De Ananda at Majuli Island in Assam is the best example of using local materials to reduce costs without compromising on modern comforts. The cane-and-bamboo guesthouse not only showcases the simple architecture of the Misings, the island's main tribal inhabitants, but is sure to boost tourism to India’s largest riverine island. So far, any exploration of this seat of the Assamese renaissance was dictated by a single ferry's timings due to lack of comfortable accommodation facilities. But the newly opened guesthouse, costing Rs 600 a night, has solved this problem.

So if you don't mind trading in the Jacuzzi for just chilling, these are the options to explore. In the process, you'll also help the locals gain employment.