One day, 30 years ago, Mr.Shashidhar, got a phone call. That phone call was an invitation to visit an untamed forested valley, at the edge of the Banthemari Forest area, located between Kanakpura and Ramnagara, rich with fauna and flora, and where neem trees flowered in abundance. Both Mr.Shashidhar, an industrialist by profession, a nature-lover and traditionalist at heart, and his wife Sandhya, a horticulturist and a passionate gardener, had long dreamt of building a home akin to Sandhya’s grandfather’s home near Maralwadi. This valley was ideal. And thus was born Baevu – bespoke, rustic, and infused with nature.
Mr.Shashidhar and Mrs.Sandhya took more than a decade to shape Baevu to what it is today – an ode to ‘back to simple living’. Designed by the renowned architect Georg Leuzinger, Baevu is built on the principles of sustainable architecture with Rammed Earth walls, consisting of gravel mixed with mud while the roof tiles are tied with rope and supported by wood of areca nut and coconut. The result is a blend of tradition, comfort and homely cottages that are spacious, earthy and aesthetic.
Designed as a natural extension of the environment, Baevu brings the “farm to fork” philosophy in action through sustainable practices – from rainwater harvesting and greywater management, to a pesticide-free organic vegetable greenhouse, milk from indigenous cows, and power from solar panels. While every Baevu cottage, named after a medicinal plant or tree, is a tribute to Indian arts, crafts and rich culture.
Baevu is a beacon of calm and serenity for tired urban souls who need a break from their hectic routine-filled lives. Here, you can leave your cares and chores behind and soak in nature – trek, cycle, swim, walk, read, look at the stunning skies, hear birdsong, enjoy traditional food that is pure and wholesome, and just be.
