IT STARTED WITH A WALK.
For quite some time, I had been looking for a place where one could simply be with nature—with no distractions, no noise and no rush of everyday life.
In 2022, I visited Umrela, around 18 kilometres from Kotdwar. I was staying at Jusgar Resort and decided to take a nature walk. That walk changed something for me.
The birds were calling, the surroundings were quiet, and there was a sense of wilderness that I had been searching for. During that walk, I spotted a Niltava, Black faced other rare birds. At an altitude of around 2,400 feet, seeing the bird there was particularly fascinating.
And somewhere during that walk, the idea of Eco Haven began.
NATURE WAS ALREADY WORKING HERE.
For years, the land remained a quiet, untamed wilderness. After we returned, the forest began its slow, silent work of restoration. Trees reclaimed the soil, birds returned to the canopy, and life returned to the streams. We didn't build this place; we simply allowed the wilderness to reclaim what was already ours.
BEFORE WE BUILT ROOMS, WE BUILT WATER.
WHY WATER FIRST?
At this altitude, water is a critical lifeline for wildlife. We prioritized creating a source of water that could sustain birds and mammals naturally, ensuring the forest remained the protagonist of our story.
THE PHILOSOPHY
Our intervention began with the creation of a large water body. This was a deliberate choice to support the local ecosystem, allowing nature to reclaim its space without the noise of conventional development.
NATURE'S RECLAIM
By providing a reliable source of water, we helped the land slowly transform into a living ecosystem. This approach ensures that wildlife can thrive in the wilderness we have chosen to protect.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PLACE.
We didn't create the wilderness here. We simply decided to protect it, nurture it and share its story. The people behind Eco Haven are the ones who have walked these paths for years, learning the language of the forest and the rhythm of the wildlife.
