VAN BHOJ: Temple of Sustainability

When a former mining quarry came into the healing hands of Revathi & Vasanth Kamath, its' destiny changed forever. The barren site, ravaged by deep digging for quartzite and Badarpur, was perfect for the design experiments the pair was to carry out applying their beliefs and sensitivity.

Hence began the construction of The Kamath House. In 1996, the concept of sustainable living was unheard of. In times to come, the house was to stand testimony to how far ahead of their times Revathi & Vasanth were.

The implementation of their beliefs in sustainability began right from the start. By using only the material available on site; Mud, Stones, Wood, Metal, everything that was used in construction didn't travel from anywhere far but came from the immediate vicinity. Revathi's deep understanding of nature acquired through her growing up years around the tribes of Karnataka, where her engineer father worked on Hirakud dam, came in handy.

In no time, the arid land started responding to her healing touch and started to sprout life. Soon the entire area was teeming with Peepal, Neem, Papdi, lemon and many other native trees. The birds returned to build their homes and sing songs of joy. Many other species of living creatures big & small came back to reclaim their space & play their part in the ecosystem. The peacocks can still be found rejoicing at the lifeless land springing back to it's former glory and show their happiness by breaking into a dance now & then.

Little did the couple know that they were not just creating a home but a legacy to be cherished by future generations. Every element is an outcome of a process that has gone through immense consideration. For example, the mud floor across the house is the result of deep foresight. Mud is a material that is readily available, easy to use, cooling, daily maintenance-free, gives a very rustic vibe and looks beautiful.

The entire house is designed to harness the energy of the Sun, from the first rays to the last. Large glass windows let in ample sunlight and offer a generous view of the lush green canopies spread throughout the estate.

The house tries to follow maximum principles of sustainable living in every aspect. Right from the vernacular construction to grey water treatment and reuse. The house is a living & breathing lesson in how to live in perfect harmony with Nature.

As you stroll around the house, you might notice the blue figurine in exultation kept near a window and wonder at the sudden appearance of colour in an otherwise earthy-toned space. At first glance, it might look like just another artefact kept as a space filler. But as the sun rises and sends in its’ rays to light up the little corner, you realize that the figurine is actually exulting in celebration of the warm rays bathing its’ cold body. Each of the carefully kept artefacts have a reason for being where they are. One cannot help but be in awe of the depth of thought process that has gone into crafting the space out of nothing.

Experience Sustainability!

Ecoplore is proud to bring you Van Bhoj, it’s flagship experiential eco-home that is much more than a beautiful place to visit and admire. The beloved house of Revathi and Vasanth Kamath is a legacy to be preserved and nurtured. A visit to this temple of sustainability is a visit back in time, when worshiping Nature was part of our great Indian culture. Everything flows in perfect rhythm with its surroundings and every little human-made element blends effortlessly with what Nature made.

Van Bhoj is an ideal place to experience sustainable living. It has rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment, solar cooker, composting and all other sustainable elements. Come and visit this paradise within Delhi NCR.

Timings: 11 am to 5pm

Cost

INR 5000/person

Includes:

Visit

Welcome & Departure drinks

Healthy Snack

Lunch

Location: Faridabad

For bookings, contact prernaprasad@ecoplore.com or call 9811971407

Building a Sustainable House

If you are looking to build an eco tourism village or a sustainable house, Ecoplore is providing end to end services. We have architects, skilled artisans, rainwater harvesting experts, waste management experts in different parts of the country. The institutional knowledge that Ecoplore possesses because of it being a sustainable travel company and personally visiting and verifying every eco-stay, we have a range of innovative ideas on eco-tourism.

So, we welcome you to visit Van Bhoj and experience an ideal sustainable building. Once you have first hand experience and ground knowledge, you will be in a much better situation to decide.

For those, coming to visit, for getting a sustainable building constructed, here are the visit details:

Timings: 11 am to 5pm

Cost

INR 2100/person

Includes:

Visit

Welcome drink

Healthy Snack

Location: Faridabad

For bookings, contact prernaprasad@ecoplore.com or call 9811971407

Van Bhoj is a Temple of Sustainability as it possesses special powers to be the center point of all sustainable leaders across the world. Despite being located in Delhi NCR, it is a paradise with several peacocks, hundreds of monkeys, squirrels, woodpeckers, parrots, eagles, porcupines living on its premises. Its an example of animal-human co-existence and most importantly it's a symbol of resilience that despite climate change and all other climate related issues, things can be corrected if we decide to return to our age old practices. That’s why, every guest who enters Van Bhoj begins with the line “I remember my Nana-Nani’s house after seeing this place.”