In the high-altitude village of Lachen in Sikkim, entering with a plastic bottle is not as simple as it sounds. Vehicles are checked before entry, not for security threats, but for something far more pervasive — plastic waste. Visitors are asked to leave their plastic bottles behind. If they don’t, they may not be allowed in.
This small but firm rule stems from Lachen’s proximity to Gurudongmar Lake, one of India’s highest and most sacred glacial lakes. The village serves as its gateway, and protecting this pristine ecosystem has become a collective responsibility.
The urgency is hard to ignore. India discards 3,800 tonnes of PET plastic bottles every day, much of which ends up polluting rivers and lakes. Left unchecked, even fragile, remote ecosystems like Gurudongmar could face the same fate.
To prevent this, Lachen has declared itself plastic-free. The ban is not symbolic — it is enforced. Cars are randomly checked to ensure that no plastic bottles make their way into the village. The initiative is led by the Dzumsa of Lachen, which has brought together shopkeepers, hoteliers, and residents to support the effort.
The initiative is led by the Dzumsa of Lachen, which has brought together shopkeepers, hoteliers, and residents to support the effort.
But the village has not stopped at restricting plastic. It has also provided an alternative. Local shops sell reusable bamboo bottles, encouraging visitors to transfer their water and continue their journey responsibly.
This approach reflects a larger ethos of sustainable tourism rooted in discipline and community participation. A small village has taken it upon itself to protect a vital natural resource from the consequences of widespread plastic use.
Beyond Lachen, the state of Sikkim has set another precedent. It became India’s first 100 percent organic state, with over 65,000 farmers choosing to forgo chemical fertilisers.
While plastic pollution and chemical use remain widespread challenges across the country, Lachen and Sikkim offer a different model — one that shows it is possible to balance human activity with environmental responsibility.
