What we say

It is people and connections that drive what we do at SS101. When the Thakur of Bisalpur found out I was in the area, I was invited to meet the family. They spoke of their plans for their ancestral home – to turn it into a four-roomed homestay from where people could learn about the people, region and culture as well as heading out to sight the leopards of the region.

Brothers Bhanwar Paramveer Singh Deora and Bhanwar Veer Vinod Singh have restored their 17th-century haveli with its architecture, structure and charm intact. This is a connection with the region that goes back centuries – they haven’t taken over or destroyed land meant for Rabaris to graze their flocks or leopards to roam. The family are seen as heads of the 24 villages that make up the Bisalpur estate, helping villagers with small businesses, resolving disputes, and ensuring sustainable development.

What was also evident was the respect they clearly still have in the community. While we were there, a Rabari couple came to ask for the Thakur’s blessing for their wedding. The Rabari shepherds have been an indelible part of Bisalpur for centuries, from grazing the estate herds to taking care of the temples.

The thought and attention going into creating this stay was clear – meals prepared using 200-year-old family recipes, safari experiences with homemade treats set up by Jawai Lake, and dinner served in a restored old stable. Paramveer’s vision, formed while working in pharmaceutical research in Mumbai, was to create something that future generations would want to return to, preserving the rich culture that might otherwise be lost.

This isn’t tourism imposed on a landscape – it’s a family sharing their heritage while preserving the delicate balance between community and wildlife that has existed here for generations.

Our three words:

Heritage , Rooted, Respectful

Philippa…