Vanamali

23/01/2026

Vasant Panchami in Vraja

This land is about resilience and our restoration work here is about hope. On the day of Vasant Panchami I was fortunate to be here and I took in the breathtaking sight of the mustard fields that stretched into the blue horizon while behind me stood the ravaged hills that are degraded from human pressures. The mighty powers have scarred this sacred land through illegal mining of sand, rocks and encroachments and one wonders if the future generations will have these Gods magical gifts to witness. The simple brajwasis continue to wrap us in love melting our hearts and I get touched deeply each time when i hear their stories of resilience and the hope that the restoration of Sakhigiri Van gives them against the unabated fire of urbanization engulfing this land.

In Vraja spring begins today. I pray as I return home that the mustard fields return each year with the same abundance and prosperity while the eco- restoration projects expand to heal the wounds and conserve this amazing land forever.

09/12/2025

15/10/2025

Nature's balance

15/09/2025

15/07/2025

Team work
Teams work
Team work works.

Whichever way you read it...

It takes a team.

Ecological restoration at Sakhigiri @ Barsana


bank

09/07/2025

A new journey begins

Long awaited Sakhigiri Van project at Barsana with UPBVTP, The Re-wilders , Hara Jeevan and DCB Bank

Join us as the story of ecological restoration unfolds in the holy dham.

# ÚPBTVP
# The Re-wilders
# Hara Jeevan
# DCB Bank
# UP Forest
# Ecological restoration
# Barsana

04/06/2025

Cool June

This is the toughest month to be in the field. Not this year. The dreaded heat that sears our skin and drains us out of every drop of water as sweat seems to have migrated to another land.

Today's visit to Vanamali Project at Barsana was more like a holiday in a hill station. Too cool for June. I wondered if it's a weather that farmers are celebrating? Is it the new normal? Unpredictable conditions?
Will the seeds that needs scorching dry heat followed by rains germinate ?

Though the Climate change seems to be throwing new challenges worldwide, i enjoyed a long walk through the site. Savouring the company of the plants that we have been tending last few years. Salai I was told is resilient and will not disappoint you once it takes root. Experience is a great teacher and having spotted a Salai growing fresh new leaf almost after a year and half of being declared dead only deepened my respect to those who have led the way in ecological restoration and share their learnings so that we continue with hope on this rocky path.

27/03/2025

Sand paper tree
( Streblus asper)

Rarely found in Delhi, I spotted it first; a large specimen at Roshanara Bagh many years ago with a friend who took me there for some tree-spotting.

Several years later I found many of them growing in Vraja. Happy to find it in flower recently.

02/03/2025

Madhavilata at Barsana

This beautiful liana is flowering at our gaushala. It was planted by Braj sharan baba last year. Perhaps it's proximity to a waterpipe ? It has shot up at lightning speed but I didn't expect the flowering to happen this quick!

Sharing the joy of the visual delight though I cnt do the same with its beautiful fragrance ..

27/02/2025

Vraja flowers

The wild flowers are so beautiful. They lie hidden and reveal only to those who go off the beaten path.

Roheda and Merua

22/01/2025

Vanamali Tree Walks

We are planting seeds in the hearts of future for nature ....the right lessons, the right teachers, the right space and the perfect land; Vraja.

My dream unfolding..Today....everyday.

04/01/2025

John C. Maxwell said, "Students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care".

This time it's teachers who became students at our Vanamali walk at Vrindavan in VRI .They seem to thoroughly enjoy the entire program. I guess they could sense how much we care.