Go on, have a field day

Breaking away from typical tour itineraries, moreu00a0 travellers are moving towards rural India for a slice of the rustic countryside. From plouching fields to plastering village walls, the new-age tourist is willing to get down and dirty. The Trip packages your best options


A villager cooks up a delicious meal for her guest, courtesy
Cultural Aangan

Spend 'precious time' by the riverside
At: Asangaon
Anurayee, whose name stems from Devraiu00a0-- sacred groves and veritable treasure of natural wealthu00a0-- hopes to help people discover the beauty of nature. Anurayee is a group that promotes eco-tourism by giving people a chance to live in a house by the Bhatsa River and experience the joys of staying in a small village called Kajal Vihir in Asangaon (between Kalyan and Kasara). Anurayee Ecofarm was started in 2007 with the efforts of a few people from the resident Sawant family who wanted to do their bit for the villagers. "First, we built a bungalow and then bought a plot of land, where we began to cultivate rice and vegetables. Soon, we decided to convert it into a eco-tourism spot and built a few more cottages for people to stay at," says Sanjay Sawant. At the village, people can engage in myriad activities including nature trails, bird watching, stargazing, fishing, swimming, trekking and farming. In return, a sizeable revenue is generated for these villagers.
Cost: Rs 2,500 for two days and three nights; Rs 380 per person for a day picnic
Call: 9820959572 / 26179059u00a0
Log on to: www.anurayeecotourism.in



Go wwoof, wwoof on the farms
At: All over the world
Excuse the onomatopoeia. WWOOF has nothing to do with canines and we promise that being a member doesn't involve you kneeling down on your fours and barking. Wwoof (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) links volunteers who wish to disconnect from the city life and return to the days when we relied on farming for our sustenance. It links these volunteers who wish to learn a thing or two about organic farming and spend time amidst nature, by connecting them with hosts who are willing to pay for their accommodation and food in return of their help. A win-win situation. "Wwoofing is not only for people who want to garden or farm," says Harish Chander Tiwari, coordinator for woofu00a0India. "There are also opportunities for handy persons, cooks, teachers, green builders, babysitters --u00a0and anyone else. Wwoofing is what you make it. For some, it's a way to learn about organic gardening, perhaps, to start a garden, a farm or a business of their own. For others, it's an opportunity to live healthy for a few days, weeks or a seasonu00a0-- eating well, breathing fresh air, and enjoying good company. Then, there are those who prefer to experiment with non-urban living, a foray into a new lifestyle. And for those bitten by the travel bug, it's a unique way to travel the world and experience other cultures."
Membership (annual): $ 40 or Rs 1,130 (single); $ 40 or Rs 1,808 for a couple
Log on to: www.wwoofindia.org


Accommodation at Anurayee

Join the local culture club
At: Sawantwadi
If you decide to head to Sawantwadi in the Konkan (498 kms from Mumbai), Culture Aangan is an ideal place to start at. These guys plan your trip such that you become a house guest with one of the villagers. They are one of the few organisations which are trying to revive the concept of homestays in an attempt to provide a cultural holiday for travellers. Tourists can stay in a room in the house of a villager and truly experience rural life. "Instead of eco-tourism or agro-tourism, we prefer calling this experiential tourism," says Shilpa Borkar from Culture Aangan. Travellers can choose from different packages including Classic Culinary Trail, Tryst with Royalty, Village Diaries or Discovering your Inner Self. The stay gives you the chance to learn about village life,
participate in different activities including farming, garland-making, pot-painting and live like a villager in every sense. Though you will stay in one of the homes of a local, the room will have every facility, including food cooked by your hosts, who receive all the proceeds of your visit, including food and stay.
Cost: Rs 4,500 per night per couple
Call: 9821483765u00a0
Log on to: www.cultureaangan.com



Travel at the speed of a buffalo
At: Neral
Life slows down when you step into Saguna Baug, a 50-acre farm at Neral. It's home to wooden cottages, a pond house, a fishing pond, a river in which you can mount a buffalo (unless it nearly drowns under your weight, like we witnessed with a stranger the last time we were here), rice and banana plantations, lotus and water lily ponds and a lake for boating. Phew! Run by a Gandhian fighter, the highlight of this property for us is the gorgeous pond house that stands on stilts in the middle of a placid pond, with a capacity to accommodate up to six people. Save this for the upcoming rains, like we are. In true village style, the cottages are sans AC, TV and telephone. Loving it already?
Call: (02148) 238438 / 238338
Log on to: www.sagunabaug.com



Also starring
Mamacha Gaon
Remember the sunny vacation days spent away in your mummy's village, with your cousins and nani? Mamacha Gaon, a property in Boisar in Thane district, understands this nostalgia and gives you the feel of village life by putting you up in a rustic home, which is equipped with amenities, thus ensuring you have a comfortable stay. Dig into rural yummies, take laps in the swimming pool, hitch a bullock cart ride and play carrom for hours. And, bring along those cousins as well.
Call: 9619878400 / (02525) 327067
Log on to: www.mamachagav.comu00a0
Grassroutes
The Trip has made a couple of Grassroutes trips and returned with a broad smile that has stayed on for days. Grassroutes' raison d' tre is to help the urban world meet and discover rural India. By creating employment opportunities on the rural level, promoting exchange of thought and helping to conserve local traditions, Grassroutes helps curb rural migration to the cities in search of employment. We suggest you block your dates for their next event that takes place in the first two weeks of June at one of their villages: Purushwadi. Here, hundreds of fireflies come out just as the rains descend, making it a magical experience. You also get to bathe in rivers, plough fields, milk cows and sleep in a tent or under a blanket of stars.
Call: 9820128208
Log on to: www.grassroutes.co.in