A simpler way of living in Our Native Village

Experience a simpler, more natural way of living at Our Native Village, an eco-retreat in Hessarghatta, near Bangalore, says Reshmi Chakraborty.

Green is a way of life in Our Native Village

Open grassland on the way to ONV

The last leg of the journey to Our Native Village in Hessarghatta takes you through an open grassland, one of the last surviving grasslands in this area and home to migratory birds in winter. Conceived as a 100 per cent eco retreat by founder CB Ramkumar, Our Native Village is one of those perfect places to recharge and rejuvenate.

Winner of several awards for responsible tourism and its eco friendly concept, including the GMR Express Award for Excellence in Environmental Protection in 2011, ONV is now a pure eco retreat with 80 per cent of the power generated in house. Several touches of ingenuity make this possible. For example, apart from solar water heaters, they use boilers that use fire wood to heat water. Special mud bricks keep the rooms cool and air conditioning out. No pesticides or chemicals are used in their property of 16 acres either, we are informed.

One of the rooms in ONV

With 22 rooms, ONV is organic in the true sense of the term. “We do not use room fresheners, only bio cleaners,” says Vijay K Neelakantan, general manager, ONV. True enough, when we walk into the rooms, there’s the beautiful, natural aroma of dhoop all over. What’s more, the rooms are naturally cooled and are significantly cooler than outside thanks to special mud bricks used for the eco friendly architecture of this resort. Neelakantan informs us that the mud was excavated from the property itself. The beautiful thing is that all the rooms have murals on the walls created by tribal and rural artists across the country giving them an unusual vibrant feel.

In keeping with its organic philosophy, the food at ONV is completely vegan and sourced from its own organic farm. They call it Compassionate Food and it means caring enough for the environment by choosing to go organic without harming the earth or animals. The cooks here use whole grains instead of refined flour and jaggery instead of sugar. We are served herbal tea and coffee with jaggery that tastes different but is very refreshing and delicious.

The food cooked here is entirely oil free without compromising on taste, says Neelakantan, adding that they even have oil free samosas! In keeping with its philosophy of being vegan no milk products are used here either.

ONV also offers several healing programs for the tired soul. Some of these may require you to stay for a longer duration and focus on holistic healing. There are Yoga, meditation and health packages. They also offer several Ayurvedic therapies, including mud baths.

The herbal garden

The best thing to do here however is nothing. For those looking for a dose of activity, ONV lays out several options for its guests that could give you a true taste of life in the village. Bring your grandchildren and the whole family along and perhaps you could enjoy a long-missed game of Gilli Danda or try your hands again at Kite Flying. They also take you on a Bullock Cart Ride in the nearby village. You could also take a dip into the pool which is naturally cleaned with aquatic plants!

“Most of our guests are happy to just be,” says Neelakantan, “We are creating awareness about a natural, slower way of life.”

An in house resident

To experience a natural, simpler way of life at Our Native Village, take a drive down to Hessarghatta one of these days. Our suggestion is to meticulously follow the directions given on their website to avoid getting lost. Once there, enjoy the peace and quiet, try Yoga and meditation, enjoy a bonfire under a quiet, starry sky and let the children in your family run around, exploring leaves, flowers and the occasional farm animal. You will come back recharged and happier.

To know more about Our Native Village, visit http://www.ournativevillage.com/index.htm