Among the many establishments in Rajasthan that offer a quintessential Rajasthani experience, there lies one that you mustn’t miss – Apani Dhani.

Apani Dhani is the manifestation of a gentleman Ramesh Chandra Jangid’s passion for staying true to his culture.

Located in Nawalgarh, a city in the heart of the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, the eco-stay is run by Ramesh and his family.

As a young boy, Ramesh harboured a dream of becoming a pilot and seeing the world. In 1972, he was selected for a Gliding Instructor course in Pune, achieving his Gliding Instructor rating in 1973 and served as the Instructor in charge at the Agra Gliding Club from 1975 to 1979.

He travelled across Germany and Europe to pursue his passion and take part in international gliding competitions and races.

It was during these trips that he met with some environmentalists and activists who inspired him to turn to nature. “After achieving heights in my gliding career, I started to feel that I wanted to do something back home,” he says.

By this time, his passion for nature conservation was at a peak and he wanted to try his hand at eco-friendly tourism.

“The monopoly and inequitable distribution of tourism income in our state served as the strongest catalyst, propelling me to initiate a new approach to tourism in Rajasthan,” he says.

“In 1990, I established Apani Dhani with a triple objective: to promote and preserve local built and intangible heritage, minimise the environmental impact of tourism on natural resources, and foster socially and economically responsible tourism practices,” he adds.

In 2013, Apani Dhani Ecolodge won the Responsible Tourism Award from Wild Asia in the category of Best in Cultural Preservation.

The homestay embodies sustainability, Ramesh says. “We initially used locally-acquired clay for the walls and pampas grass for the roofs in our initial huts, while our yoga hall, dining room, and family room feature rammed earth walls.”

He adds that for the two new rooms constructed during the COVID-19 pandemic, AAC blocks for the walls and stone slabs for the roofs were utilised.

Along with rainwater harvesting, photovoltaic panels and solar water heaters are the sustainable measures implemented at the stay.

“All the meals are served in disposable and compostable leaf plates, and we offer a sustainable and responsible laundry service,” Ramesh says. Additionally, they compost all their wet waste which is later used in their fields.

Ramesh adds that all the food that the guests eat is sourced from the fields. “We refrain from using chemical fertilisers, ensuring that all crops are grown naturally,” he shares.