No bricks, glass or steel: Bengaluru man transforms 10 acres of dry land into an eco-friendly forest retreat. About 20 km from Kanha National Park, this award-winning stay is built from mud walls, terracotta tiles and bamboo

The Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. The forest comes alive with a cacophony of animal sounds like peacocks, langurs, tigers, vultures and antelope. The sheer beauty of the place prompted the government to crown Kanha as the best tourism-friendly national park in 2000. But do you know that only 23 kms away from Kanha lies a serene and sustainable retreat, surrounded by diverse flora and fauna, where nature meets eco-conscious architecture? The tranquil forest retreat is known as Surwahi Social Ecoestate Kanha, born from the vision of Bengaluru travel enthusiast Ankit Rastogi.

From barren land to thriving forest

It all started in 2015 when Ankit Rastogi was working in a leadership position at a well-known travel aggregator company. Frequent work trips across India exposed him to a different side of tourism—one that celebrated sustainable travel, community-led stays and a deeper connection with local ecosystems.


Inspired by these experiences, Ankit Rastogi envisioned creating a retreat that would blend seamlessly with nature instead of altering it. Turning that idea into reality, however, was no overnight feat. Working alongside his team—Pradeep Vijayan, Narendra Patle, Mohan Shiva, Chainlal Gautam and Priyanka Rastogi—Ankit spent nearly 7 years carefully planning, designing and developing the project. The transformation began with a 10-acre parcel of semi-barren land.

Rather than rushing into construction, Ankit Rastogi’s team allowed the landscape to recover naturally for nearly 3 years. At the time of purchase, the property had fewer than 300 trees. Today, it has evolved into a thriving green habitat with over 6,000 native plants and trees, attracting 59 recorded bird species. A man-made pond, Arjun Talab, on the estate has also become an important refuge for wildlife during the scorching summer months, when natural water sources in the region begin to dry up. The artificial pond is designed to harvest monsoon rainwater and replenish groundwater reserves.

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Built with nature, not concrete

Restoring the land required patience and ecological planning. Native seeds were scattered across the property to encourage local vegetation, while protective fencing was installed to safeguard young saplings from animal grazing until the forest cover became established. Interestingly, only about 1,500 of the plants now found on the estate were intentionally planted. The remaining 4,500 regenerated naturally, a sign that the ecosystem had begun healing on its own. As greenery flourished, the landscape gradually welcomed bees, butterflies and birds.

The same eco-friendly philosophy guided the construction of the retreat. Instead of relying on conventional materials such as baked bricks, glass and steel, the rooms were crafted primarily using thick mud walls that naturally regulate indoor temperatures. Recycled terracotta tiles brought from old village homes were used for the roofs, reducing waste while preserving a rustic aesthetic. The property also features a chemical-free earthen plunge pool instead of a traditional swimming pool. Much of the estate is powered by solar energy, while a wood-fired boiler is used to provide hot water, reinforcing its commitment to low-impact, sustainable living.