Nirvana Organic Farm – Jaipur

Immerse in Rajasthani folk & farm culture, a stone's throw away from Jaipur
Arvind Modi, owner of Nirvana Organic Farm

“We welcome you to experience the warmth of rural Rajasthan at our organic countryside farm, just an hour away from Jaipur, where you can stay in traditional thatched roof cottages, wake up to the sweet chirping of birds, and immerse yourself in the local folk culture.”

~ Arvind Modi, owner of Nirvana Organic Farm

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Rajasthan is one of India's richest states with respect to culture, music, dance, food, and traditions. Whether you are traveling to the the golden triangle or looking to rejuvenate yourself over a weekend, Nirvana Organic Farm offers a quiet indulgence in the charms of rural Rajasthan without travelling too far from Jaipur city.

Travel back in time as you live in traditional thatched-roof cottages on the farm, and experience the warm hospitality of your hosts - Maliram-ji, a farmer from the nearby village of Chomu, and his wife, Manju-didi. You can reminisce about your childhood with popular village games like gulli-danda & hop-scotch, watch sunrise & sunset strolling amid the neighbouring fields of mustard & jo, participate in farm activities, and watch artisans from the nearby village of Maheshpura encapsulate the spirit of Rajasthan in their music and dance. Manju-didi’s food is a pure delight, cooked on an open-air chulha with organic ingredients fresh off the farm.

Please email us at untravel@indiauntravelled.com to plan and book your travels.

Nirvana Organic Farm

Accommodation at Nirvana Organic Farm is provided in comfortable & spacious traditional thatched-roof cottages. While the walls of the cottages are made in concrete to prevent water from seeping in during the monsoon, they are coated with a mud finishing for temperature control. Each cottage has an attached western-style bathroom, covered with a fiber rooftop to recreate the experience of open rooftop bathing with the sunlight penetrating in, and yet keeping away falling leaves & creepy-crawlies.

The simplicity of the cottages lends a rural ambiance to the farm, while comfortable bedding, pillows and quilts make for a good night's sleep. Electricity is provided in the rooms, including bulbs and charging points, but is available only in the night. The veranda of each cottage overlooks the farm and its greens, and has locally crafted cane chairs to lounge in.

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Manju-didi & her expert chulha cooking

Food

Food is simple Rajasthani vegetarian fare, prepared by Manju-didi on an open-air chulha, an ancient mode of Indian cooking, now found only in rural parts of India. Breakfast typically consists of aloo paranthas served with dahi, while lunch and dinner vary with the seasonality of the farm vegetables. Dal-bati-churma is a Rajasthani speciality, consisting of a combination of lentils (dal), round hard bread famous in the desert region of Rajasthan (bati), and a popular delicacy prepared with ground wheat & sugar (churma).

As far as possible, the food is prepared with vegetables and herbs grown on the farm. The resident cows and goats provide milk, and spice levels can be moderated accordingly to your taste buds.

Food is served on traditional banana leaves, and you can choose to dine at the lounging area of the farm, in the verandah of your cottage, or while sitting cross-legged on the floor of the chaupal (a large empty room) in traditional Rajasthani style.

Drinks

Delicious Chai  is prepared in typical village style – milky and sweet – and served in mud cups locally called Kulars. Lemon trees at the farm bear fruit all year round, making both Nimbu Pani (lemonade) and lemon tea refreshing to drink.

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Fields of mustard in bloom

Activities

You can choose to use Nirvana Organic Farm as a base for your trip to Jaipur, or as a quiet weekend retreat away from the busy cities of Delhi & Jaipur.

Activities at & around the farm include:

  • Sunset over the fields.
  • Traditional games like gulli-danda, hop-scotch & marbles.
  • Farm activities like feeding the goats, milking the cows, and cutting the crops.
  • Strolling in the neighbouring fields of mustard & jo, depending on the season.
  • Swimming in an open-air fresh water pool at the farm.
  • Folk music & qawallis, and traditional dance performances by artistes of the neighboring village.
  • Learning traditional Rajasthani cooking on a chulha
  • Volunteering at the farm, especially during the planting & harvesting seasons.
  • A day trip to Jaipur city.
  • A day trip to the nearby Hindu temples.
  • Reading, writing, painting, photography.
  • Camel safari through the neighboring villages (on prior request).
  • Yoga classes (on prior request).

Please email us at untravel@indiauntravelled.com to plan and book your travels.

Costs

At Nirvana Organic farm, accommodation is priced as follows:
Cottage accommodation: INR 1,500 per night, inclusive of taxes
Extra bed: INR 300
Dormitory with 6 beds: INR 300 per bed
Meals per day, including breakfast, lunch, dinner & tea: INR 425 per person

Please email us at untravel@indiauntravelled.com to plan and book your travels.

Location

Nirvana Organic farm is located 22 km from Jaipur city, off national highway 11. The closest railway station is Jaipur, from where an auto can drop you off to the farm for INR 300-350, while a taxi will cost INR 500-550. Alternatively, a local bus on the way to Chomu can drop you at the Surya Vatika Road bus stop, from where Maliram-ji can pick you up on prior notice. The nearest airport is also in Jaipur.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit the farm is from October to March, when the weather is pleasant with warm days and cool nights, and lots of birds visit the farm.

Things to note

  • Fitness: The farmstay is a perfect for people of all ages and fitness levels, looking for a rustic experience – you can make your stay as relaxing or as active as you like.
  • Cash and ATMs: Only cash is accepted at the farm. ATMs are located 2 km away.
  • Bathrooms: Each room comes with an attached bathroom, bucketed hot water and western style toilets.
  • Electricity: Power cuts are frequent, and electricity is often available only after dark. Please be prepared by carrying torches and spare batteries as needed.
  • Phone, Internet and TV: There are no TVs in the rooms, but plenty of interaction with the host farmer family and fellow travellers. Most phone networks have erratic connectivity here. Wifi is not available.
  • Pets: Allowed.
  • Alcohol: Not provided. You can carry your own on prior request.

Checklist

Many of us have pre-conceived notions about rural India. Leave them behind, travel with an open mind, and you'll be pleasantly surprised with what you find.

  • Warm clothes if you’re travelling in winter
  • Walking shoes
  • Books to read & write, stationery to paint & draw, basically anything you’ve always loved to do and never got the time to
  • Torch for the night
  • Binoculars for bird watching
  • Cosmetics you need
  • Prescription medicines, if any
  • Camera & batteries / charger
  • Cash, if needed. The nearest ATM is in Jaipur city.

Please email us at untravel@indiauntravelled.com to plan and book your travels.

Reviews

“We had a very good experience at the farm, infact quite pleasing environment and very good hosts.” ~ Nitin, travelled with his family in July 2013

“We had a good time at the farm. I would like to share some pros and cons of our trip there:”
Pros:
  • Very peaceful place, allows you to unwind. Staff is very unobtrusive.
  • Very nice natural accommodation in small thatched huts.
  • Exceptional food provided by Mrs. Maliram. We were served Dal-Bati and Churma which are local Rajasthani delicacies and it was very authentic and great! Food prices are very reasonable.
  • Place is brimming with many birds and assorted small mammals - nature watchers paradise.
Cons:
  • It was really hot 43 degrees C. There were very frequent power cuts, so the fan in the room was not working making it quite unbearable. It would be nice if the owners look at providing an invertor backup just to keep the fan running, or else resort to some natural cooling methods like khus blinds etc.
  • The cab from Rajjas Travels charged us Rs 1390 and Rs 1150 respectively for our to and fro trips. They added the kilometers for reaching the airport for the pickup from their starting location adding the costs on top of the Rs 700 you had mentioned earlier. You should look for cheaper travel options to reach this place from Jaipur.
     
~ Shailesh Joshi, travelled with his wife in May 2013

To feature your review / testimonial, please write to untravel@indiauntravelled.com.

Please email us at untravel@indiauntravelled.com to plan and book your travels.

In 2004, Mr Arvind Modi bought a piece of barren farmland 22 km away from Jaipur. The neighbouring farming settlements were only growing cash crops on their fields for commercial reasons, and the ecology of the region was suffering due to a lack of trees that would grow and flower seasonally, but never leave the land barren. Mr Modi began to plant trees of lesva, drumsticks and bel, among others, and using organic farming techniques, revived the barren soil and managed to save the trees from the Rajasthan summer, when temperatures rise as high as 43 degrees Celsius.

Changes in the weather were gradually felt, and today it is possible to lounge in a shaded area of the farm even in the summer, with the trees swaying away in the cool breeze. Nirvana Organic farm soon became a place where farmers from the nearby villages could learn about organic farming and traditional Indian agricultural practices

Below are some tips to practice responsible travel while at Nirvana Organic Farm:

  • Pack your bags with environmentally friendly things. Carry as little plastic as possible.
  • Do not leave behind any non-biodegradable waste. Carry batteries and other toxic waste back to the cities where waste management is in place.
  • What you wear has an impact – environmentally and culturally – dress ethically and appropriately.
  • Respect the local culture and refrain from physical intimacy in public places.
  • Carry a good water bottle. Pure water dug from the earth is available at the farm for re-filling your bottles. Refrain from buying numerous plastic mineral water bottles.
  • Local food is great. Try it as much as possible and avoid packaged food. Ask for modifications in the food according to your taste, instead of wasting it.
  • Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol and refrain from drugs, especially in public places
  • Seek permission before photographing people, so their privacy is respected.
  • Do not pluck any medicinal plants & flowers, and do not disturb the wildlife.