Itinerary
Our trip starts in Dehna, a tiny hamlet in Maharashtra's rainiest zone. The first day, you will work in the fields along with the locals, learning from them all about rice cultivation and joining them as they plow, transplant or harvest according to season. You will also help the woman in making bhakri for dinner. On the second day, you can go on a trek to Mount Ajobagad to visit the Valmiki Ashram. Later you will join the locals in rice cultivation and for a game of cricket.
Day 1: Dehna - Arrival, Village Livelihood activities- Story of Rice I, Bhakri making, Walks
After guide introduction and tent allotment, you join the villagers in their daily life. You either will work in the fields, and depending upon the season, learn to plow, or transplant rice seedlings, or how to harvest the fully matured rice and finally de-husking the grains by vigorously shaking it. Along the way, you will discover and learn the history of rice. Engaging with the business of creating food from soil gives you an understanding of a primitive industry that only grows in importance with every passing day. It encourages a unique form of gratitude towards a staple diet, otherwise taken for granted.
Later, we join them in rural lifestyle activities such as rice pounding, winnowing, chopping wood, spice grinding etc.
In the evening, we will go on a relaxing walk by the river. The last activity of the day is Bhakri making where you help the local women cook dinner and prepare a bhakri from scratch. There is an optional night walk after dinner. Overnight stay in Canvas tents.
Day 2: Dehna - Trekking, Village Livelihood activities - Story of Rice II, Village Cricket, Departure
You start the day with an optional trek to Mount Ajobagad to visit the Valmiki Ashram there. You follow it up with another round of rice cultivation. Join the villagers as they work in the field.
In the evening after a round of village cricket, it is time to say our goodbyes and depart for our onward destinations.
*Year round Activities:
• Village or Forest Trek
• Riverside Fun
• Rice Pounding
• Collecting Water
• Climbing trees
• Chopping wood
• De-husking rice
• Winnowing
• Cooking with local women on firewood
• Spice grinding
Seasonal Activities
• Learn how to plough the field [May]
• Sow rice [June]
• Weeding [July]
• Transplanting Rice [July / August]
• Harvest Season [October]