In the foothills of the Shivalik range in Uttarakhand, environmentalist Jai Dhar Gupta and rewilding expert Vijay Dhasmana have turned 32 acres of land into India’s first private biosphere.

The Rajaji Raghati Biosphere was born out of Jai’s love for the movie Avatar and his dream of living in a place like Pandora. For his 50th birthday, he decided to turn that dream into reality.

Just four hours away from Delhi, the biosphere began as an ambitious vision and is now a thriving self-sustaining ecosystem, serving as a model for rewilding across India.

Picture courtesy: rajaji.biosphere

The land was previously used for agriculture and overrun by invasive eucalyptus trees. These non-native trees were depleting the groundwater and destroying the local ecosystem.

Picture courtesy: rajaji.biosphere

Jai and Vijay’s first task was to remove the eucalyptus trees, making room for native species to thrive.

Together, they identified 62 native tree species that were on the verge of extinction in the area and began the work of reintroducing them. Today, the biosphere is home to 132 native plant species, creating a diverse and rich ecosystem.

Picture courtesy: rajaji.biosphere

But nurturing this revival was not easy. “The first monsoon was horrifying,” says Vijay. “On a war footing, we created the natural contours that existed to ensure that rainwater recharges our land.”

Picture courtesy: rajaji.biosphere

Over time, the area has truly blossomed. Leopards, elephants, and an array of bird species have returned, reclaiming the land as their own.

Picture courtesy: rajaji.biosphere

“Earlier, when they would come down the corridor, they would stop and show signs of being upset. Now, they look at me as a part of their habitat. That’s when I realised that my vision of coexistence is coming true,” says Jai. Picture courtesy: rajaji.biosphere

The Rajaji Raghati Biosphere operates under strict guidelines: no vehicles, no plastic, and no foreign plants or seeds are allowed. The focus is to keep human impact minimal and let nature take its course.

“I already feel like the richest person on the planet,” shares Jai.

Their work is now inspiring others across India to follow suit. Farmers, conservationists, and landowners are reaching out, eager to replicate their success and restore their own lands.

In the foothills of the Shivalik range in Uttarakhand, environmentalist Jai Dhar Gupta and rewilding expert Vijay Dhasmana have turned 32 acres of land into India’s first private biosphere.

The Rajaji Raghati Biosphere was born out of Jai’s love for the movie Avatar and his dream of living in a place like Pandora. For his 50th birthday, he decided to turn that dream into reality.

Just four hours away from Delhi, the biosphere began as an ambitious vision and is now a thriving self-sustaining ecosystem, serving as a model for rewilding across India.

The land was previously used for agriculture and overrun by invasive eucalyptus trees. These non-native trees were depleting the groundwater and destroying the local ecosystem.

Jai and Vijay’s first task was to remove the eucalyptus trees, making room for native species to thrive.

Together, they identified 62 native tree species that were on the verge of extinction in the area and began the work of reintroducing them. Today, the biosphere is home to 132 native plant species, creating a diverse and rich ecosystem.

But nurturing this revival was not easy. “The first monsoon was horrifying,” says Vijay. “On a war footing, we created the natural contours that existed to ensure that rainwater recharges our land.”

Over time, the area has truly blossomed. Leopards, elephants, and an array of bird species have returned, reclaiming the land as their own.

The Rajaji Raghati Biosphere operates under strict guidelines: no vehicles, no plastic, and no foreign plants or seeds are allowed. The focus is to keep human impact minimal and let nature take its course.

“I already feel like the richest person on the planet,” shares Jai.

Their work is now inspiring others across India to follow suit. Farmers, conservationists, and landowners are reaching out, eager to replicate their success and restore their own lands.

Jai and Vijay’s message is simple yet profound: “Let’s go back to the simpler things and reconnect with nature,” Vijay says.

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