Gardens and parks in Mumbai

The New York Times In Transit blog reports on escaping the crowds of Mumbai, India to visit some of the green spaces.

Luckily, the ever-popular Marine Drive promenade and the Hanging Gardens are not the only green spots in town. For a short morning stroll, check out the leafy neighborhood of Five Gardens, just a five-minute drive from the teeming Dadar train station.

At sunset, head to Bandra’s seaside promenade, which runs from the 17th-century Bandra Fort up to the fishing village of Khar.

For a real escape, head to the northern suburb of Borivali to Sanjay Gandhi National Park, a 40-square-mile expanse of rugged green hills where leopards still roam.

Read more here: Going green in Mumbai

Photo by Ally Reeves

Gorgeous gardens around the world

Concierge.com reports on 12 lush and gorgeous gardens worth visiting around the world.

Terra Nostra (picture left) Furnas, São Miguel, Azores, Portugal

others include:

Wörlitz Germany, near Dessau
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town, South Africa
New York Botanic Garden the Bronx, New York City
Saiho-ji Kyoto, Japan
Kennerton Green Mittagong, outside Sydney, Australia
Amber Palace Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

See the slide show: Green retreats

Photo from concierge.com

Climb Himalayas in Indian Kashmir

USA Today reports that foreigners are now allowed to climb the Himalayas from the India side of Kashmir because violence from insurgents has declined.

Before the start of the insurgency by separatists in 1989, hundreds of thousands of tourists flocked to the region — known as the Switzerland of the east — to enjoy the glacier-fed streams flowing through the forests and grasslands or lounge on houseboats floating on Srinagar's Dal Lake.

The government in the Indian state of Jammu-Kashmir declared 2010 a "visit Kashmir year" following an improvement in the security situation, said [Farooq Ahmed Shah, a state tourism official].

"The decision has been taken at the highest level and nearly 100 peaks in Ladakh region are open for trekking and mountaineering," he said.

These peaks are situated at an altitude ranging from 9,840 feet (3,000 meters) to nearly 26,246 feet (8,000 meters).

Read the full story: India opens Himalayan peaks to foreigners

Photo from environmentandpeople.org

Indian car Tata Nano: small, cheap, environment-friendly?

Ecotravel News is back after a longer than expected hiatus with a post about Indian car Tata Nano.

U.S. News & World Report's Fresh Greens blog has the best insight into the environmental aspects of this hyped car.

The Nano costs the equivalent of $2000, and is barebones meaning it doesn't have things like power steering or windows, or air conditioning. Sounds to me like my old 1960s Volkswagon Beetle...

Read the full story: 10 things you should know about the Tata Nano

Solar powered rickshaws in New Delhi

AFP reports on the new solar powered rickshaws in New Delhi.

The "soleckshaw" runs on either a motor powered by a solar battery or pedalled as usual using only foot power

India has an estimated eight million rickshaw drivers.

"'The most important achievement will be improving the lot of rickshaw drivers,' said Pradip Kumar Sarmah, head of the non-profit Centre for Rural Development."

Read the full story: India's humble rickshaw goes solar

Asia and global warming

China and India are both high-population and fast-emerging economies that are also altering their climates drastically by emitting some of the highest amounts of carbon dioxide worldwide.

The Economist reports how the effect of these greenhouse gases is changing the climate, melting the Himalayan glaciers and shifting weather patterns - all things that are affecting the health and livelihoods of their citizens. Both countries are realizing their contributions to the problem and are beginning to work on solutions.

Read the full story: Melting Asia

Tourism in India should turn green

Environmental News Network reports that most of India's environmental degradation in certain areas comes from tourism, so recommendations for ecotourism would be very beneficial to both environment and economy. Locals in highly touristed areas such as the Himalayan region don't benefit from international tourism even though tourist money has increased substantially over the years. Recommendations for community-based and owned projects would keep locals in the area who can look after and upkeep the natural environment.

"Conservation-based businesses such as ecotourism and allied services like organic farming and food processing [have] a good potential of generating quality jobs and income in…[the] Himalayas," says Manoj Bhatt, president and executive director of Research, Advocacy and Communication in Himalayan Areas.

Read the full article: Ecotourism may benefit India's environment, economy