MP: Pachmarhi Wins ‘Green Destinations Bronze’ Certificate; Becomes India’s First Hill Station to Receive this Recognition
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and sustained efforts to promote responsible tourism, another significant milestone has been added to the tourism landscape of Madhya Pradesh. The state’s renowned hill station, Pachmarhi, has been honoured with the prestigious ‘Green Destinations Bronze’ certificate at the ITB Berlin Travel Mart held in Berlin, Germany.
This certification is awarded by the Green Destinations Foundation, based in the Netherlands, which is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
With this recognition, Pachmarhi has become the first hill station in India to receive this international honour. On behalf of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Ujjain Commissioner Ashish Singh received the award.
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism, Culture, and Religious Trusts and Endowments, Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi, said that the ’Green Destinations Bronze certificate’ awarded to Pachmarhi reflects that the state is not only promoting tourism development but is also leading in environmental conservation and preservation of local culture. He stated that this achievement will establish Pachmarhi as a global sustainable tourism destination, which will further increase the number of international tourists visiting the region.
Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board Dr. Ilayaraja T, said that the honour is a global recognition of the excellent work being carried out in Pachmarhi in the areas of heritage conservation, waste management, energy management and climate protection.
With this achievement, Pachmarhi has emerged as a replicable model for other hill destinations and eco-tourism sites in the country. This recognition will further strengthen the concept of responsible tourism in Madhya Pradesh.
Global Standard for Sustainability and Environmental Conservation
The Green Destinations certification is a prestigious international programme that focuses on three key pillars of sustainability, economic, environmental and socio-cultural sustainability.
Success after Rigorous Evaluation
Pachmarhi was selected after an extensive and detailed evaluation process based on international standards. The assessment included 75 stringent indicators across six key themes: destination management, nature and landscape, environment and climate, culture and tradition, social welfare, and business communication.
In the evaluation, Pachmarhi achieved a score of 6.5 out of 10 and 40% compliance with GSTC standards.
Result of Continuous Efforts by the Tourism Board
The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has been making consistent efforts in this direction. As part of the project, a two-day workshop was organised in Pachmarhi in November 2025, followed by extensive fieldwork, data collection, and documentation.
After an on-site audit by an international auditor in February 2026, the certification was officially awarded.