Many people don’t have clarity about what is Agri-Tourism or Farm-Tourism. This includes the farm owners and other stakeholders like govt officials, policy makers and the target customers. When I said that I wanted to start Agri-Tourism in my farm, the common retort was “Oh, you are starting a resort!”. When I say that it is not a support, a strange look in disbelief is also common. So what is Agri-Tourism?

• Pick seasonal fruits like Mangoes, Sapota/Chikku, Guava, Cherries, water apple, lemon, etc. directly from the trees (as per the season). Although “Fruit Picking” is ONE of the activities, visits to our farm don’t start and end with “Fruit Picking” ONLY. If you are looking for “Fruit Picking” only, this is NOT the place.
• Talk to the trees, birds and animals.
• Feed the animals like cows & calves, sheep & lambs, chicken & chicks. 
• Also an opportunity to indulge in farm-fresh rural Karnataka food cooked mostly with the ingredients grown in the farm.
• Play some rural games in the farm. 
• Spend the day in a live organic farm soaking in clean, fresh air, preferably away from the digital world.
• Understand how your food is grown
• Get a glimpse of the rural and farm life

These experiences are NOT available in a Resort or Home Stay.

ಬಹಳಷ್ಟು ಜನರಿಗೆ ಈ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಫಾರ್ಮ್ ಟೂರಿಸಂ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸುವ ವಿಷಯ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪ ಮಾಡಿದಾಗ “ಓ, ರೆಸಾರ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡ್ತೀರಾ?” ಅನ್ನುವ ಉದ್ಗಾರ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ. ರೆಸಾರ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡುವ ಉದ್ದೇಶ ಖಂಡಿತಾ ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲವೆಂದಾಗ ಒಂಥರಾ ವಿಚಿತ್ರ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಬಂದೇ ಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ಹಾಗಾದರೆ ಫಾರ್ಮ್ ಟೂರಿಸಂನಲ್ಲಿ ಏನಿದೆ?
– ತೋಟದ ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ವಾತಾವರಣದಲ್ಲಿ, ಯಾವುದೇ ಕೃತ್ರಿಮವಿಲ್ಲದ ಹಸಿರಿನ ನಡುವೆ, ಶುದ್ಧ ಗಾಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಓಡಾಟ.
– ಸುತ್ತಲಿನ ಪರಿಸರವನ್ನು ವೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿ ಅನುಭವಿಸುವುದು
– ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಯ ಅಚ್ಚರಿಗಳಾದ ಹೂಗಳು , ಮರಗಿಡಗಳು, ಪ್ರಾಣಿ-ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳು , ಚಿಟ್ಟೆಗಳು, ಕ್ರಿಮಿಕೀಟಗಳು – ಇವೆಲ್ಲವುಗಳ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ಅವಲೊಕನ.
– ಕಾಲಕ್ಕನುಗುಣವಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆದ ತೋಟದ ಬೆಳೆಗಳ – ಹಣ್ಣು, ತರಕಾರಿಗಳು – ಇವುಗಳನ್ನು ಗಿಡದಿಂದ ಕಿತ್ತು ತಿನ್ನುವ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಸಂತೋಷ .
– ಹಸು, ಕುರಿ, ಕೋಳಿಗಳಿಗೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಕೈಯಾರೆ ಆಹಾರ ತಿನ್ನಿಸುವ ಭಾಗ್ಯ.
– ತೋಟದ ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆಗೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕಾದ ಕೆಲಸ ಕಾರ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ
– ಬೆಳೆ ಬೆಳೆಯುವ ಕ್ರಮಗಳ ಕಡೆ ಗಮನ
– ಹಳ್ಳಿಯ, ರೈತರ, ಕೃಷಿ ಕಾರ್ಮಿಕರ ಜೀವನ ಪದ್ಧತಿಯ ಒಂದು ಝಲಕ್.
– ನಿಸರ್ಗದ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಒಂದಿಷ್ಟು ಪಾಠ – ಆಟೋಟಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಕೈ ಕೆಸರು  ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು!
– ಎಲ್ಲಕ್ಕೂ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ನಾವು ದಿನನಿತ್ಯ ತಿಂದುಣ್ಣುವ ಆಹಾರ ಪದಾರ್ಥಗಳು ಎಲ್ಲಿಂದ, ಹೇಗೆ ಬರುತ್ತವೆಂದು ತಿಳಿದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ .

ರೆಸಾರ್ಟ್ ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂಥ ಅನುಭವ ಅದ್ಹೇಗೆ ಸಾಧ್ಯ?

ಇಂದಿನ ಪೇಟೆಯ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಕಂಡು ಕೇಳರಿಯದ ಎಷ್ಟೋ ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಸದವಕಾಶ ಫಾರ್ಮ್ ಟೂರಿಸಂನಲ್ಲಿ ಲಭ್ಯ. ನಾವು ಕುಡಿಯುವ ಹಾಲು ನಂದಿನಿ ಪ್ಯಾಕೆಟ್ ಗೆ ಹೇಗೆ ಬರುತ್ತದೆ, ಸ್ನಾನ ಮಾಡುವ ಸಾಬೂನಿಗೆ ಪರಿಮಳ ಎಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಬಂತು, ಬಾಳೆಗಿಡ ಎಷ್ಟು ಗೊನೆ ಬಿಡುತ್ತದೆ, ರಸಗೊಬ್ಬರಗಳಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮ ಆಹಾರದ, ಆರೋಗ್ಯದ  ಮೇಲಾಗುವ ಪರಿಣಾಮಗಳೇನು , ಇಂಥ ಹತ್ತು-ಹಲವು ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಉತ್ತರ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಲಭ್ಯ – ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಸಹಿತ!

This is a sample list of Activities and Games (indoor and outdoor) that our guests shall play at Chiguru Farm. It is worthwhile to note that the activities and games will be possible only if certain conditions are met. Not all of them can be done always. Some of them can be arranged with prior request only and may be charged separately. Some of the activities are DIY and some are guided. Please feel free to ask for clarifications.

Activities

• Fruit/Vegetable picking
• Tree climbing
• Rain Dance (when it is raining – not artificial rain)
• Trekking
• Village Tour
• Petting/Feeding the farm animals
• Tractor Ride
• Pottery
• Participate in cooking
• Yoga
• Star Gazing (naked eye/binoculars/telescope)
• Bird watching
• Visit nearby dams/lakes

Indoor Games

• Buguri (Top)
• Alaguli Mane/Channe Mane
• Chowkabara (somewhat similar to Ludo)
• Pagade
• Search for Sita
• Backgammon
• Chess
• Tower of Brahma
• Navakangari
• Sheep & Tiger (board game)
• Chinese Checkers
• Carrom
• Card games
• Pictionary
• Connect 4
• Dumb Charades
• Puranic Tambola (group game)
• Antakshari

Outdoor games

• Lagori/Pittu/Seven Stones
• Treasure Hunt
• Dodge Ball
• Tennicoit Ring
• Badminton
• Volleyball
• Rama-Ravana
• Sheep & Tiger (outdoor)
• Identify the Leader
• Musical Chair
• Vikings Chess
• Khoko
• Circle Khokho
• Tyre game
• Gilli-Danda
• Tug of War
• Hop Scotch
• Hide & Seek
• Marble Games
• Pillar to Post
• Langdi
• Kabaddi
• Cycling
• Number Group

What we mean when we say that we are NOT a resort is that we try and keep the places true to how we found them – the natural beauty of the place, the flora/fauna, contours, landscape, pathways, streams, architecture, livelihoods – the core reasons we liked them in the first place! Even as we seek to prepare the place to make it comfortable for guests, we try and walk the tightrope between that and disturbing and changing as little as we can.

We do not like plastic. Sadly, plastic is a reality all around us – and despite our best intentions a lot finds its way into the kitchen and supplies we buy. And we have no means of responsibly disposing the same. Cities are better equipped to handle plastic and other waste – so we do request you carry whatever you need to bring along back to the city. We’ll help collect and pack it for the return trip.

No bottled water. As an extension of the above, we absolutely avoid packaged drinking water in plastic bottles. And discourage guests to buy the same on their vacation and journey – carry a few refillable bottles from home and we’ll refill the same for your trip back home.  

We’re amidst nature. And that includes trees of various kinds, moths, birds, bees, frogs spiders, and insects of many hues all around, snakes and other wildlife. These creatures own the space just like we do, and unless threatened, do not seek to harm us. We avoid city-style pest control and excessive bug spraying. There’s meshes and regular cleaning to keep your room as devoid of these as possible. However, quite like in the city and in traffic, there are sensible ‘rules’ to follow around the farm and the surrounding forests, and once you transcend the teeny fear we all have – having grown too used to extremely sterile places in the city – it’s a beautiful, connected world out there that’s alive and vibrant! Reconnect with it.

We respect and explore deeper local stories, local food, local livelihoods, flora/fauna, architecture. Our staff has a lot of freedom when it comes to the kitchen, your experiences, etc, and we like to take pride in and showcase their place, their livelihoods and what’s special there. Chat them up and a lot becomes possible. Because we believe travel is about a handshake, not a “consumer” product as such.

Question your “needs”. We do have good backup power, but sometimes the power outages in some remote locations can last for days, draining out our battery backup. There are numerous lights, but it’s nicer to use just what’s needed. Sometimes it’s easier to catch the afternoon breeze through an open window, and not be worried about  the odd moth flying in. And hot water is available on demand whenever you want (of course with some advance notice). Part of the beauty of Chiguru Farm is in the simplicity, and we request you to pause and check your assumptions about what’s necessary, what’s a must have, and what luxury actually could mean. we want you and your experience to be more in sync, connected with the real things around, people, seasons – all that truly matters.

Having said this, we assure you that at Chiguru Farm, where nature nurtures, we take the best care of you to take you back to your grandma’s home in the village – where love, food, fresh air and joy always made it the best vacation you ever had.