Fri Nov 21 05:54:25 UTC 2025: News Article:

Arunachal Pradesh Women Redefine Sustainable Tourism with Heritage Restaurant

Chug, Arunachal Pradesh – A group of women from the remote village of Chug in Arunachal Pradesh are making waves with their unique initiative, Damu’s Heritage Dine, a 12-seater fine dining restaurant that showcases the region’s rich culinary heritage and promotes sustainable tourism.

Named after the Monpa word for “daughter,” Damu’s is run entirely by local women who curate custom menus featuring heirloom recipes and hyperlocal farm produce. Since its launch in March 2024, the restaurant has become a symbol of empowerment, preserving traditional architecture, reviving Monpa cuisine, and promoting eco-conscious practices.

“We only buy salt, oil and chicken from the market,” says Rinchin Jomba, the main chef at Damu’s, emphasizing the restaurant’s commitment to using locally sourced ingredients.

The venture began with support from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which saw an opportunity to revitalize the area’s traditional food culture and boost the local economy through tourism. With an initial investment of under ₹5,00,000, WWF helped restore Rinchin’s 150-year-old ancestral house and connected the women with Chef Farah Naaz, who helped them refine their recipes and presentation.

Recently, four members of the Damu’s team traveled to Delhi to host pop-up events, introducing their unique cuisine to a wider audience. Their menu features traditional Monpa dishes such as phurshing gombu (cornflour tart with Chinese lacquer tree resins) and orange-pickled radish salad, providing a taste of the eastern Himalayas.

“It shows preserving heritage can be scaled up, replicated and made economically viable,” says anthropologist Gayathri Sreedharan, highlighting the initiative’s potential as a model for sustainable development.

Damu’s Heritage Dine is open for lunch with advance booking. The seven-course meal costs ₹1,500 per person.

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