In the shadowed valleys of Bhakrakot, where the Sal trees stretch like sentinels and the dawn mist coils gently over leaf and stone, the people of Kumaon have walked these lands longer than maps remember.
They do not speak of conservation in complicated terms. They live it — through fields tilled with reverence, stories murmured to the wind, and footsteps that leave no trace but memory. Their lives are stitched into the forest, not beside it, not above it, but within it.
We have learned that to protect the forest, we must walk with those who know its language.
That’s why we open our doors not just to guests, but to the community that surrounds us.
Hiring local villagers isn’t just about employment. It’s about restoration — of dignity, of knowledge, of a way of life that understands the rhythms of the jungle.
When our guests are guided through the forest by someone who grew up under its canopy, they’re not just receiving facts; they’re hearing stories that have passed through generations. A whistle that mimics a hill bird. A pause before turning a leaf — because a snake might be sunbathing beneath.
There’s an ease in their knowledge. It wasn’t learned in a classroom. It was absorbed — by living it.
They come to us not only as employees, but as quiet custodians of a world we hope to preserve. We bring opportunity to their doorstep, allowing them to remain connected to family, to land, and to tradition.
In doing so, we don’t just sustain individuals. We sustain a community fabric — one where traditional crafts, cuisines, and stories remain alive. Where conservation is not a slogan, but a way of being.
Who better to protect the forest than those who’ve known its seasons since childhood? When locals are employed in tourism, they become active stakeholders in protecting wildlife, preserving ecosystems, and guiding visitors responsibly.
They understand when to step back. When to stay quiet. When to say no.
Because for them, the forest is not a business. It is a home.
Paatlidun was never meant to be just a destination. It is a dialogue — between luxury and local, between comfort and conscience.
By integrating local people into our workforce, we ensure that the success of tourism flows back into the roots from which it grew. Into schools, into kitchens, into futures that do not have to choose between tradition and survival.
In conserving community, we conserve the forest.
And in every smile that welcomes you at Paatlidun, you’ll find the quiet strength of Kumaon — holding on, giving back, and growing with us.
Escape to the wilderness and book your next
adventure at our luxurious rooms,
nestled within the heart of the forest.