There’s a time capsule in Sankarda village on the outskirts of Jamshedpur. Have you heard?
It’s called ‘Mud & Meadows’. As soon as you set foot on the land, you’re transported back into the womb — the womb of ecology.
Elaborating on the design philosophy of this village retreat, architect Shreya Srivastava of Delhi-based ‘Studio Shunya’, says it hinges on reviving forgotten crafts and building techniques of the local Kumhar (potter) community, who were trained in this regard. The idea was to integrate a local flavour into the stay.
The retreat hinges on reviving forgotten crafts and building techniques of the local Kumhar (potter) community
Every corner of the land echoes a sustainable rhythm; that’s exactly what environmentalist Bikrant Tiwary envisioned when he first purchased the land in 2020.
A father’s gift
Having grown up in Jharkhand, Bikrant travelled the length and breadth of the country and world — for college (Harvard Business School, Boston), during his corporate role (which he quit 15 years ago), and then later as an environmentalist, planting over 20 million trees across Indian states. In 2022, he finally decided to put down his roots (literally) in the Sankarda village of Jamshedpur.
“I figured that the best gift we can give children of the next generation is a sustainable lifestyle,” he says, adding that this inspired his farmstay idea.
Local community members were trained from the ground up in the building techniques.
Agreeing that few would picture Jamshedpur as a tourist spot, Bikrant says this is exactly the notion he wants to counter through Mud & Meadows. “Very few people understand tribal tourism, but by virtue of having worked in different parts of the world, I have realised that tribal wisdom is very necessary to pass on to the next generation,” he adds.
Bikrant also shares that his work with communities through his initiative ‘Aadivasi.org’ deepened his understanding of the importance of preserving traditional knowledge and strengthening community ownership of nature-based solutions.
Natural materials like soil, sand, lime, jaggery, and traditional binders were used in the construction.
Aadivasi.org’s unique model enables people to contribute meaningfully to environmental conservation and social causes such as tree planting, rainwater harvesting, or supporting essential needs like education, nutrition, and feminine hygiene, while receiving thoughtfully crafted handicrafts of equal value. This creates a system where giving back is both tangible and rewarding.
Bikrant was keen that the same conscientiousness towards communities would play out in the farmstay in Jharkhand, too.
“The real challenge was construction,” he admits.
“We consciously moved away from cement-heavy methods and returned to natural materials like soil, sand, lime, jaggery, and traditional binders. No one in the region had attempted this at scale before. Local community members were trained from the ground up. Walls were tested, failed, and rebuilt. What could have been completed in months took nearly two and a half years, but in the process, new skills and confidence were created within the community,” he adds.
Earlier this year, Mud & Meadows opened its doors to tourists.
Mud & Meadows was built using sustainable materials.
Where nature plays the principal architect
The best kinds of things in life are the ones where you don’t know how they will happen, you just know they will. This is what Shreya came to believe. As she describes the project, her enthusiasm is evident; she sees it as a culmination of many different bends of mind, ideas, techniques (both traditional and new), and instincts.
“Stone foundations and plinths were constructed using lime, surkhi (finely powdered burnt clay bricks), and sand mortar, while sun-dried mud bricks were made on site using local soil, straw, lime, and cow dung sourced directly from the nearby cowshed,” she explains.
Shreya continues, “The windows are detailed with locally made jali (lattice) systems that soften sunlight while allowing air to circulate freely. Small ventilators in each room help release rising heat, while thick walls slow down temperature transfer, creating a naturally cooler interior.”
Innovation is in every corner. As Bikrant explains, they follow rainwater harvesting on the land.
Stone foundations and plinths were constructed using lime, surkhi (finely powdered burnt clay bricks), and sand mortar.
“With the help of one large pond and multiple soak pits, we store around 20 lakh litres of rainwater annually. In addition, we recharge approximately 15 lakh litres of groundwater every year, using natural slope design and bunding techniques (a sustainable water conservation technique where small earthen or stone embankments are built across slopes to capture runoff).”
But one of the most enjoyable parts of the process, according to Shreya, was working with the local talent. “We trained around 20 people from the tribal community to make bricks using cow dung, straw, lime, and a bit of sand.”
Calling it a process of learning and experimenting, she explains, “Since every soil is different with different compositions of sand, silt, and clay, we had to first test the soil and then mix certain stabilisers into it. It’s a hit and miss. Once we made 15 samples of bricks, we assessed which ones hadn’t developed cracks and then again tested those. Finally, we were left with one sample that we took forward. Once the bricks were ready, we sundried them and simultaneously started building the foundation.”
The mud helps keep the structure warmer in winter and cooler during the summer.
Using India’s diverse cultural moods to shape cottages
The project borrowed inspiration from the village in many ways.
“If you go around, you can see paintings done on their walls in red and green. We had some of the women come and paint motifs on the walls of the rooms, too,” Shreya shares.
She adds that she and Bikrant bonded over the intent of wanting the space to exude an aroma of craftsmanship. “We wanted guests who come here to feel like this is a place that belongs to the region and is built by the people who live here,” Shreya adds. She also credits architect Deepanjan Kumar and Rohit Prasad for their intuitive efforts in ensuring the farmstay matched Bikrant’s vision.
Intricate murals are created on the walls by the tribal communities.
The six-acre piece of land features six cottages. The columns are repurposed from an old haveli(home) in Rajasthan, while most of the solid wood furniture is from Kolkata. Every room is designed as an ode to a different region of the country.
For instance:
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The ‘Vibrant Gujarat Villa’ draws from the state’s rich artisan traditions, with its handcrafted mud architecture, earthy textures, and delicate mirror work.
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The ‘Bengal Courtyard’ channels the quiet elegance of West Bengal through solid wood furniture, subtle motifs, and a warm, cultured aesthetic that balances tradition with comfort.
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Inspired by Assam’s riverine landscapes, the ‘Rhino Villa’ features bamboo furniture.
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The ‘Konkan Retreat’ reflects Goa’s breezy coastal charm with airy spaces, natural materials, and understated luxury.
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The ‘Rajasthan Family Villa’ brings in bold earthy tones and time-honoured architectural elements, with thick mud walls that keep the space cool and restful.
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The ‘Forest Home’, rooted in Jharkhand’s terracotta pottery art, celebrates simplicity through raw textures and indigenous art, staying deeply connected to the land in both spirit and design.
‘Bengal Courtyard’ channels the quiet elegance of West Bengal (L); the ‘Forest Home’ is rooted in Jharkhand’s terracotta pottery art.
Throughout the farmstay, some elements hark back to the local tribal communities. These are evident in the Saura art (intricate murals created by the Saura tribe in Odisha). But while you might be tempted to spend a lot of time indoors and enjoy this visual fiesta, Bikrant wants you to step out into the oasis that awaits you.
The ‘Vibrant Gujarat Villa’ draws from the state’s rich artisan traditions.
Breathing life into the land through trees
According to a report by ISRO in its Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas (2015), Jharkhand ranks highest in the country for desertification and land degradation, with 68.98 percent of its total geographical area of 79,716 sq km affected.
Bikrant saw this farmstay as a step in doing his bit for the land on which he grew up. “We encourage people who come here to do a digital detox, and spend their time in the outdoors where we have planted over 100 species of trees including varieties like mahogany, palash(flame of the forest), gamhar(white teak), kadamb(burflower tree), sisham(Indian rosewood), tamarind, rudraksha (blue marble), neem, among others.”
Bikrant adds, “These days, children can easily name series on OTT, but find it tough to name tree species. We wanted the farmstay to be a space where children learn about trees and organic farming.”
The land is filled with fruit-bearing trees and locals grow their produce.
In fact, one of the experiences at the stay enables children to cook meals using the produce grown on the land. The children can then enjoy the fruit of their efforts at lunch.
If you happen to book your stay at Mud & Meadows, don’t forget to stop by the Bird Cafe. “Unlike other farms where they plant trees to make revenue, we have planted trees based on the birds’ choice. These include fruit-bearing and shade trees, to encourage different birds to come to them. It’s not just about tourism, but also biodiversity,” Bikrant shares.
In fact, most evenings he can be found sitting at the cafe, and admiring the birds: kingfishers, Indian rollers, Asian green bee-eaters, doves, drongos, parrots, yellow orioles and sunbirds.
You can even stroll around the firefly centre that Bikrant has developed on the land. While there are pockets on the site that encourage you to spend some time by yourself, some spaces encourage community gatherings. For instance, there’s a meditation centre built of bamboo and thatch, where guests can unwind.
As Shreya details this beautiful endeavour to me, I ask her, “Did the outcome match the blueprint?”
She smiles. “Sometimes, the best thing you can do is to work on creating something beautiful, and then let nature do the rest.”
Book your stay here.
All pictures courtesy Shreya Srivastava
