Enter Ramesh Jangid, owner of one of
ECOCLUB's oldest Ecolodge Members, Apani
Dhani, in Nawalgarh. Ramesh uses proceeds from Apani Dhani Ecolodge,
and Alternative Travels India to restore tradition through helping and
educating the local community. A native of Rajasthan, he lived in Europe for
many years, before returning to create Alternative Travels in 1986 and Apani
Dhani four years later. Upon his return to India he became acutely aware of
the need to develop responsible tourism, one which would combine a deep
respect for the culture and people with an authentic experience for the
foreign traveler. Apani Dhani's nine bungalows are meticulously constructed in the same spirit, in a traditional way: pampas grass (local plant) is used for thatching the roofs of the huts. Sun dried clay bricks, mudplaster and ochre from the nearby mountains are utilised for wall construction and decoration. All the rooms are beautifully decorated with local handicrafts and feature full bathroom facilities. All bungalows use solar panels for electricity.
Pro Environment Apani Dhani makes a point of using renewable energy sources and recycling. There is a solar water heating system, solar panels for electricity, a bio-gas plant producing methane gas, a solar oven occasionally used for cooking rice and lentils. Water conservation measures have been installed for bathing and flushing. Mineral water and fruit juices are bought in glass bottles which are taken back by the dealer and leaf plates are used to serve the meals. Along with leftover food, those are given to the animals or composted. Used paper is turned into papier mache. Things to do in Shekhawati: One can chose from day outings to appreciate the most representative elements of Shekhawati architecture : the havelis and their wall paintings, cenotaphes, impressive wells, trekking in the Arawalli range to discover remote hamlets and holy places and strolling in the surrounding countryside in a camel cart. The most important sites are: Nawalgarh (where Apani Dhani is located): founded in 1737 by Nawal Singh. Has some of the best preserved havelis and finest frescoes in Shekhawati. Worth seeing are the Aath havelis (eight havelis) complex, Murarka haveli, Bansidhar Bhagat haveli, Chokhani haveli, Gangamai temple and Podar school, the only haveli in the whole Shekhawati which has been restored by its owner. Fatehpur: established in 1451, once the capital of muslim Nawabs before beeing taken over by Shekhawat rajputs in the 18th century. Laxmangarh One of the most imposing forts in the region, built in the early 19th century. The city is laid out on a gridpattern which makes your way easy to find. One of the least visited towns, even though it has many interesting buildings. Mahansar founded in 1768. Not many havelis here but one of the most exquisite ones, the Sone-Chandi ki Dukan dating from 1846. Incorporates gold leaf in its intricate paintings. This haveli has three vaulted ceilings; scenes from the Ramayana are painted on the left one, incarnations of Vishnu on the centre one, and scenes from the life of Krishna are to be found on the right one. Ramgarh Founded in 1791, it has been one of the richest towns at the end of the 19th century. Apani Dhani Latest News: Ramesh informs us that Apani Dhani has just got a face lift: a complete restoration of thatched roofs of all the huts, the whole complex got a new coat of ochre, one additional single room was added, flowers were planted in the court yard and a "wormicompost" method was started with earth worms. What are you waiting for? |
Shekhawati
(the land of ruler Rao Shekaji 1433-1488) in Rajasthan, North Western India, is
famous as the home to an extraordinary number of colourful, unique in the
world wall paintings that adorn hundreds of buildings, called havelis, constructed by
the Marwari community of merchants who have been a backbone of entrepreneurship in India
since the 19th century. The frescoes also decorate temples, cenotaphs, wells and
forts. The area was arid and local opportunities limited, and thus the entrepreneurial
inhabitants eventually moved out of Shekhawati and into other towns, leaving behind the
picturesque walls. The murals slowly decayed, and became covered with
graffiti and even whitewashed. Lack of proper water drainage resulted in
water seeping down to the streets and to the precarious foundations of the buildings. The
walls of many havelis, were punctured to set up stalls and workshops while
finely carved
woodwork found its way to antiques dealers shops.
Some havelis were even purposely demolished to make way for modern
buildings.
For
the past 14 years, Ramesh has tried to make his guests participate in Indian daily life, particularly rural life. He
emphasises the
importance of real personal contact with local people, believing that this
is the only way for non-Indians to gain genuine insight into a culture as
diverse and complex.
Pro-community
Apani Dhani is the force behind the Friends of Shekhawati, a local NGO.
Among other things, with the coordination
of local teachers, this association organises and finances direct actions in the
schools, conferences, slide - shows, outings to selected sites,
photo-contests and training for young guides including tuition in English
and French, basic courses in local history and architecture: many teenagers and even
children, instead of going to school, find it more lucrative to "guide"
tourists around. Not knowing English and, of course, not having any
historical or architectural knowledge they simply show the tourists
around, hoping for a good tip, sometimes turning aggressive when they do
not get it. 
The association recently granted a
scholarship to 12 students to help them become registered guides.