All About GlampEco, Fitness and Training for the Mountains in an Interview with Akshat Jain

Are you aware of the “glamping” concept? Do you enjoy spending time in the mountains? Well, if you’re one of them who loves adventures, read on.

Yuktie had a chat with Akshat Jain back in 2021. He’s a mountaineer and also the founder of GlampEco. The discussion revolved around Akshat’s love for the mountains and his success in setting up GlampEco.

Let’s check out what we can learn from the wisdom Akshat has to share.

A Little About Glamping and GlampEco

Akshat: “Glamping comes from the words “glamorous camping”. It means something that happens in the wild. Eco-conscious is a way to say that if you’re in the wild, respect that. Don’t make the wild unwild because you want some comfort.”

Yuktie: “What inspired you to set up GlampEco?”

“Well, there was a huge gap in the industry where people felt that if they have to provide a certain amount of comfort to a guest who wants to experience the wild, it can’t be done in a non-usual way.

A non-usual way would be like cutting the trees, making the foundation, make some bases and make a hotel. That gap existed for a very long time.

Glampeco was an effort in that direction where we would be able to introduce a concept or product that would give you that glamour and comfort and yet be sustainable and eco-friendly.

So to bring about that change and set an example, Glampeco was born.”

GlampEco is a glamping destination set up in the Himalayas. It’s situated in the Hamta village of Himachal Pradesh, very close to the famous hill station of Manali.

They’re working towards being an eco-friendly site and have put umpteen measures and policies in place to fullfill and improve on this goal.

He highlights how Glampeco was also set up with these aspects in mind. Glampeco is set up in a remote yet pristine spot in Manali.

He also shares the ways in which the construction focused on the eco-conscious aspect. This is how Glampeco was set up in a sustainable manner:

• Use of a minimum amount of cement
• Minimum impact on land while setting up
• Site is set up in a minimum plastic zone
• Solar electricity and water-heating capability

They also educate guests about the value of not leaving traces while going on trails.

Yuktie adds to this by sharing how her parents taught her the value of protecting the environment, She also shares how her grandfather used to make pencil pouches out of the remaining patches of denim from altered clothes.

And it helped her build Kosha on these principles. Taking that forward, she asks Akshat about the conscious practices people can follow during their travels.

Eco-Conscious Practices People Can Follow During Their Adventures

Akshat: “Start with being mindful of your actions. One of the most common things I see and practice myself is to carry a water bottle. That’s the easiest thing you can do.”

Here are some basic things you could do on your part to act in an eco-conscious manner:

1. Carry a portable water bottle and refill it.

2. Don’t litter. Keep your waste to yourself and dispose at an appropriate spot.

3. Don’t buy packed content while travelling. Carry fruits instead. It helps you prevent “travel hunger” which makes you gobble almost everything you see.

Akshat: “Having a portable water bottle which you make an effort to fill reduces at least ten plastic water bottles for one trip.”

Yuktie: “The part about fruits is so crucial. It lets you get a sense of the local flavours.”

As for the fruits, the season you’re travelling in also plays a role. Each season might have some specialties. So you can get a chance to taste some delicious fruits and grab some nutrients from it for your body.

Akshat shares his experience of gobbling up all the fruits in Kodaikanal during one of his trips. He shares how he decided to avoid junk food completely and feels it was the best decision.

He gives a special mention to the custard apples he ate at Kodaikanal. He compares its size to that of a melon.

Clothing for Adventures in the Mountains

Yuktie: “I feel that people travel relatively unprepared for the cold.”

Next up, Yuktie asks Akshat to share the essentials you can carry while visiting GlampEco in winter.

Akshat: “As I always say, there’s no bad weather. It’s just about bad gear. You end up having bad gear, and then you start cursing the place. So if you’re well-prepared, you don’t need to worry about the weather. You can completely enjoy it.”

Akshat’s general advice to his guests who plan to visit Glampecio is as follows:

“Layer up. Wear multiple layers instead of one thick jacket and a t-shirt below it.” He mentions that the latter combo won’t work well for you. So he suggests you should have the right set of:

• Thermals
• Fleece Layers
• Waterproof Outerwear to protect you from winter elements.
• Local Woollen Socks. (2 layers of socks are the best option)
• Cover your head with a beanie but not your ears. When you cover your ears, you won’t be able to acclimatize well to the weather.

Yuktie: “This aspect of layering we can’t seem to emphasize enough. There’s also science behind it.”

Akshat’s Love for the Mountains

Yuktie: “I have seen your love for the mountains, and I relate to it. There’s magic in the Himalayas. As much as we try, it’s difficult to describe in words. Can you please tell us about some of the magical moments that you have had during your travels?”

Akshat: “I’ll tell you three scenarios, especially from GlampEco, because I spent three years living there and building up the site. Even though I was staying at the same view for three years, I never got bored because the view was so dynamic.”

“So it’s not like you have to go to many places. Even at one place you can observe nature in all its manners and feel content enough about the mountains. You don’t need the urge to say, “Oh my god, why am I at the same place.”

When you’re at a certain height, a lot of things change weather-wise and night-sky-wise.”

While discussing, he also shares his experience about an encounter with a meteor.

He also shares the experience of getting to witness the NEOWISE comet. It stayed in orbit for almost a month.

Akshat: “I was able to capture that asteroid so beautifully, which will happen in the next 6000 years. That was one special memory. This was last year (2020) during the lockdown.”

“Every December, there’s something called the Geminid meteor shower in which there are meteors falling, and you need to capture it.

Our orientation on the mountain is such that we have almost a complete view of the night sky around us. So we were able to capture the meteor shower on camera and through our naked eyes also.

There was no building obstructing our view or anything, so that was very beautiful.

At certain times of the year, the clouds get stuck In the valley. You feel like you’re floating above the clouds. So these things are such visual delight that you can’t help but capture it.”

Akshat’s Passion for Fitness and Training

Yuktie: I have also read about your passion for fitness and the role of a trainer. Can you take us through your fitness journey?”

Askshat: “GlampEco for us is a passion project and it is just like our house, the place that we built and share with other travellers. But our minds are towards our passion, one of it for me being mountaineering and adventure sports.

One of the reasons I wanted to be in the mountains is to attain a certain level of physical fitness so that I can capture the beauty of the mountains even better and go to more remote places, treks and capture some extreme adventure sports while I am at it.”

Akshat mentions that you can go for a walk anywhere in the mountains and feel ten times fitter. So, any workout or fitness routine is rewarding.

Akshat: “I go ice climbing in the winter every year, and that’s exactly how it is. That’s why I need to be a little fitter than the usual people because I have this goal set.”

As for ice climbing, one place he visits is Lahaul.

Akshat: “I wake up early. I work out for an hour. Then I do my yoga and meditation and then start my day.”

Lessors to Learn from the Mountains

Yuktie: “As an entrepreneur, I have learnt many lessons from the mountains. I learnt a lot of parallels between building a business and scaling a high mountain. What are the lessons that mountains have taught you?”

Here’s what Akshat has to share:

• Take it Slow and Enjoy Little Moments of Relaxation.
• Helpful and Grateful Nature of the Locals
• Be Kind to Others

Yuktie also addresses the welcoming nature of the locals with one of her personal experiences.

Have you imagined a day without electricity? If that’s the case in the city, it would be a huge matter of concern.

But Yuktie shares how this scenario helps in bonding with people when you’re in the mountains. She shares how they would go and meet their friends on this particular day.

Also, even though you might get tired at the end of the day, it’s an enriching experience because you’re with loved ones and known faces.

Akshat adds to this with his experience from his initial days at GlampEco. When the electricity would give way, they would find time to show their guests the beautiful night sky.

If they were lucky enough, they would also witness a satellite or a meteor during this period.

Kosha’s Role in Akshat’s Mountaineering Adventures

Akshat mentions how Kosha’s products have played a role in his life and mountaineering adventures. For starters, he loves the eco-friendly packaging of the products.

He feels that using eco-friendly products makes a difference to the users. It’s because they feel that they are also contributing towards protecting the environment.

He gives a special mention to the cozy feel of Kosha’s fleece layers, hoodie and pajamas. He has also used them for a long period of time. So longevity is also taken care of in this regard.

Conclusion

Is it a good idea to spend your New Year in the mountains? Well, Akshat has something to tell you regarding that:

Akshat: “In hospitality, New Year is a very intense time because that’s the peak season for us. I have spent years at my site only.”

He says that the mountains are a nice spot to be in. But you might have a poor experience due to the crowd that forms during the festive time.

He mentions that he would prefer being at a place with the least number of people. But then again, he mentions how it can get challenging to find a popular area.

Then too, the mountains are magical. All you need to do is land up there at the right time. Also, you need the right amount of fitness and gear to take you through your stay.

And yes, if you’re out on your sporty adventures or a vacation in Manali, spend a few days at GlampEco.

This post was written by Kosha team member – Shawn Mathias

Pictures Courtesy: Akshat Jain