Rarely sighted on the Indian subcontinent, we are lucky that this Spangled Drongo – also called the Blue Drongo – decided to appear fleetingly on the Savista lawns one September evening, where it was fortuitously captured in this photo by Hedda, our resident intern at the time. The Spangled Drongo has a glossy sheen […]
Jaipur Seasonal Change: The Short Summer is Here
Between the closure of the monsoons and the onset of autumn, the plains of India go through a four week period of humidity and heat, that has been nicknamed the ‘short summer’. Jaipur is no exception to this. The mornings and evenings remain pleasant, but the days have gone back to being hot and bright. […]
A Birthing at Savista
We recently welcomed the latest addition to the Savista community. Baiju – the latest lamb to be born at Savista – emerged from his mother Banu a few days ago at the pre-dawn hour of 4.30 am. We were jolted awake from our state of deep sleep by a single mighty yell, from a voice that […]
Guest Stories – Quilting Diversities: Priscilla Knoble on how her immersion into blockprinting added a new dimension to her passion for textiles
“Life is short. There is so much that I still want to see and do. Perhaps it is because I was born and raised in Japan away from my parents’ home country or perhaps it is because I am fascinated by all the world has to offer but as much as I love to stay […]
Summer Solstice, June 20-24 – Celebrating the Fecundity of Life Forms at Savista
Extreme summer has arrived in Jaipur. But even through the heat haze, blistering sun and blinding glare that are the hallmarks of this season, there is much to celebrate at Savista. Just two mild showers – that came down when nature itself couldn’t bear the burden of the still heat any longer – have turned […]
Guest Stories – Skateboarding as a metaphor for social and cultural change in rural India
Like the title of her book “REMOTE. The Rural Changemakers of Janwaar”, Ulrike Reinhard came across as remote during her two-day stay at Savista! With her windblown hair, faraway look in her eyes and strong determined stride she seemed totally self […]
Guest Stories: A Designer’s Encounter with Savista on her Journey Through Rajasthan and Varanasi
I first had the great pleasure to stay at Savista in April 2017 this year. As a London-based textile designer I was planning a trip to Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) to see the first samples of a new collection of hand knotted rugs I was developing for launch later in the year under my own name. […]
When Travel Leads to Volunteering: Hedda’s Story
“How it all began. I had visited India once before. I spent 4 weeks at a CISV-camp in Lucknow at the age of 12, making new friends and expanding horizons. Although, I didn’t get to see much of the cultural heritage since I spent most of my time in a building belonging to the City […]
Greenwash and Whitewash: The Monsoon Draws to a Close at Savista
Our shrubbery and trees don’t get greener and brighter than this. Nor the haveli whiter and more dazzling! All washed and polished bright by the last rains of the season. And here comes a gent, in tan suit and black tie – or heavily mustachioed, depending on how you look at it – taking a […]
Our four-legged residents: Soumya and Sharanya
Soumya and Sharanya are our two little girls… Our kids… Our goatsies. Soumya first arrived at Savista as a one day old baby with her mother Sukanya. Sukanya had been born and brought up on Dholia’s farm – Dholia is one of our farm and garden staff – and when we heard that she had […]
