Shreevanam Vegan home stay welcomes nature lovers in Delhi NCR for a tranquil vacation

June 2nd, 2023

We are officially in the midst of summer and the humidity of the warmer months has many of us looking for a relaxing weekend away from the bustle of daily life. And if you wish to have a charming few days away at a fabulously quaint farm stay, then Shreevanam Vegan home stay in Delhi NCR is the place to be. Spread over six acres it is a tranquil haven for nature lovers just a stone’s throw away from the Capital. This farm stay is the ideal example of environmentally friendly building. If you happen to be driving to this homestay, you should know that Bulandshahr is located just over an hour from Delhi, and is well connected by a fantastic motorway. 

Intriguing architecture graces this stunning homestead

When you enter the premises, you shall see that the house is full of light and air, surrounded by large verandas and lofty ceilings, and is inspired by architectural legends such as the British-Indian architect Laurie Baker and Sri Lankan maestro Geoffrey Bawa. The moment you step inside the modish paradise, you notice there are three bedrooms and five bathrooms, as well as a living and dining room. The family area is absolutely adorable and perfect for parents with a boisterous bunch of kids. But we were especially charmed by their large and creatively planned kitchen. 

Aparna Rajagopal reveals the Origin story of this fascinating homestead

“After just six years of growing this beautiful food forest on six acres that was just a sugar cane field, we finally unveiled this special space as a farm stay and homestead. It’s a project of pure love,” affirms Aparna Rajagopal who also founded Shreevanam Homestead and Beejom. The farm is full of rescued animals and if you are a dog lover it’s paradise. The food is vegan here, and delicious. We serve a diversity of cuisines from across India and elsewhere and the menu is an illustration of how one can eat sumptuously in a most humane way especially in a tropical landscape where grains, legumes, vegetables, herbs and fruits are in abundance. 

“In fact, the proceeds from this go towards the work that Beejom does with animal welfare, rural entrepreneurship and environmental education. I hope this empowers us to do more and more. Looking forward to hosting people here and sharing our wonderful journey that has been full of learning and many surprises,” she explicates.

Source: @shreevanambybeejom on Instagram

Their Serene Forest of Food

If you’ve ever had your own kitchen garden, you’ll admit that growing your own food alters your personality. Aside from farming skills, it requires seclusion, serenity, self-reflection, philosophy, a love of nature and learning, tremendous curiosity, a sense of adventure, deep observation, absolute focus, empathy, compassion, and a great deal of joy, equanimity, passion, perseverance, and patience. Then you will undoubtedly be rewarded! This is the most brilliant inner engineering. After all, the renowned Japanese farmer Masanobu Fukuoka's legendary comments still ring true, “The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.”

The founder speaks to us about the homestay’s unique philosophy and the food they proffer. “Given the tremendous range of vegetables and grains we raise throughout the year, the cuisine we offer is vegan, seasonal, nutritional, and incredibly diverse. We've been cooking for local farmers markets for at least ten years and are known for turning our plentiful and intriguing goods into a feast. Our expertise is native meals, which are both homestyle and healthful. In place of paneer, we employ sustainable vegan equivalents such as oat milk, peanut curd, and tofu. We grow the majority of the major ingredients, and what we don't grow, we source from reputable companies and market sellers. The meal is usually prepared using the Bio-gas system that we constructed,” she smiles.

Source: @shreevanambybeejom on Instagram

Meet the rescued animals of this glorious farm stay

And as you step away from their garden, it is time to meet the troupe of stars that are the long-terms residents at this farm. In a world where humans have built incredibly cruel machines to generate an increasing amount of meat, dairy, leather, honey, and wool, the time has come for animals to be valued for who they are and what they contribute to our survival. After all, this earth does not belong just to us, and all other species do not exist solely for our enjoyment. And luckily, we learned that Beejom started with animals, is about animals, and is run for them. Its foundation includes a serene domestic animal sanctuary. 

“We have all sorts of domestic animals at the Beejom farm in Noida who have arrived to us in various ways and now call this their eternal home. They exist because it is their right, and they contribute in a variety of ways to the success of our farm,” explains the founder. “We choose to be a vegan farm to celebrate them while also demonstrating that we can live a very healthy life without abusing other species such as trees and plants.” Indeed, their story is a beautiful one and these creatures are living their best life in this food forest! 

Speaking of the interesting fauna who are the inhabitants, Rajagopal shares, “We have a magnificent cottage called Dogpur where we keep our beautiful rescued dogs, a cattery where we keep our cats, a cow shed where we keep rescued cattle, many bunnies, a duck and geese herd commanded by the renowned Tinku Lal, and several goats. All of them have been vaccinated and neutered. You will enjoy getting to know them during your time here,” she smiles signing off.

Source: @shreevanambybeejom on Instagram

Exciting things you must do at this homestead

-Enjoy their luscious vegan barbeque

-Browse through the library of wonderful books 

-Swim in the small, but wonderful pool in their courtyard. 

- Go for bullock cart rides

-Do some stargazing with our telescope on a clear night 

-Forage in the food forest and make your own vegan meal with the help of their farm chefs.