UTTARAKHAND: The beauty of the Himalayas attracts thousands of trekkers every year, but keeping these mountains clean is also a shared responsibility. Taking another step towards responsible trekking, The Searching Souls team removed around 45 kg of waste from the Valley of Flowers trek along with Bollywood actress Sunita Rajwar as part of its “Restore Himalayas” campaign, an initiative focused on protecting and restoring the natural beauty of the Himalayan region through responsible travel and active clean-up efforts.
The cleanliness drive was initiated by The Searching Souls team which was led by Pankaj, one of the organisation’s trek leaders. The drive involved a team of five members and the famous Bollywood actress Sunita Rajwar who worked in different phases during the trek to collect waste from the mountain trail and help keep the Valley of Flowers route clean.
Three phases of the cleanliness drive
The clean-up activity was carried out in three phases.
- In the first phase, on 2nd September, Ashish and Brij Mohan, the trek leaders from The Searching Souls team, took the initiative to collect waste from the trail. He carried approximately 5 kg of waste back down from the Valley of Flowers, helping keep the trekking route clean and reducing waste in the valley.
- In the second phase, on 17th September, our trek leader, Vivek Singh Negi, joined the initiative and continued the cleanliness drive along the trekking route. He collected approximately 7 kg of waste from the trail, bringing the total waste collected across both clean-up drives to 12 kg.
- In the third phase, the remaining members of the team joined the clean-up activity along with actress Sunita Rajwar. Together, the team collected waste from different parts of the Valley of Flowers trekking route. In total, around 45 kg of waste was removed from the mountains.
Keeping the mountains clean is everyone’s responsibility
- The Searching Souls team educates trekkers and visitors about the importance of keeping the mountains clean even before the trek begins, through pre-trek calls and emails. Trekkers are encouraged to carry their waste back with them and avoid leaving plastic, food packets, bottles and other waste on the trail.
- The Searching Souls aims to ensure that trekkers understand that protecting the mountains is a shared responsibility and that even a small effort can help keep these fragile landscapes clean for future visitors. Through its “Restore Himalayas” campaign, the team encourages trekkers to go beyond simply enjoying the mountains and actively contribute to their protection. The campaign reflects the belief that responsible trekking is not just about following guidelines, but about taking meaningful action to preserve the Himalayas for future generations.
- The team continued its clean-up efforts alongside trekkers, turning the message of responsible trekking into meaningful action. This reflects The Searching Souls’ commitment to keeping the mountains clean—not just by educating trekkers and sharing guidelines, but also by actively stepping in and taking responsibility whenever needed.
Sunita Rajwar joins the message of responsible traveller
Actress Sunita Rajwar, who was present during the trek, also became part of the “Restore Himalayas” campaign. Her participation brought further attention to the importance of protecting the Himalayan environment.
The video from the trek shows Sunita Rajwar sharing her experience of the journey and talking about the effort involved in trekking in the mountains. Her participation in the clean-up activity also gives a simple message to travellers — enjoy the mountains, but leave them clean for the next person.
The Searching Souls’ commitment to the Himalayas
- For The Searching Souls, responsible trekking is not limited to taking trekkers to beautiful destinations. It also means taking care of the places where these journeys take place.
- The removal of 45 kg of waste from the Valley of Flowers trek is another effort towards cleaner trekking trails. The team believes that trekkers, trekking companies and visitors must work together to protect the natural beauty of the Himalayas.
- The mountains belong to everyone, and keeping them clean is everyone’s responsibility. A beautiful trek should leave behind memories, not waste.
The Searching Souls’ message is simple: Trek responsibly, carry your waste back and help keep the Himalayas clean.
