Why Palghar's Govardhan Eco Village Is A True Inspiration

Goverdhan Eco Village Project, an initiative of community development undertaken by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has recently bagged an award for its contribution towards environment protection. Nestled in the serene locales of Palghar district in Wada taluka of Maharashtra, the project won the Acqa Congress Award by Aqua Foundation Group in the category of 'green housing-social sector' in New Delhi, according to a release issued by ISCKON.

India is a land where ashrams originated thousands of years ago and has a rich tradition of yoga and meditation. Our country has been a popular spiritual destination attracting many travellers and spiritual seekers from all over the world. This is clearly explained by the growing number of ashrams or centres coming up in many parts of the country. Also, such spiritual centres have evolved with changing times and today they even include standard houses as well as five-star accommodations.

The Goverdhan Eco Village Project

Flanked by the Sahyadri mountains, the Eco Village is a spiritual retreat centre or ashram conceptualised to offer a Vedic lifestyle for its devotees clubbed with the concepts of environmentalism, eco-farming and animal rights. Aimed at tackling the global ecological crisis and social development, the project was founded by the acclaimed Bhakti Yoga practitioner, Radhanath Swami. This farm community is about 108 kilometres towards northeast from Mumbai and houses numerous facilities encompassing a swimming pool, an ayurvedic wellness centre, a seminar hall and a yoga studio.

Built on the underlying principle that 'every waste can become a precious resource', the project even includes systems for water conservation, organic farming, waste management, animal care as well as green buildings. The construction process for these green buildings are at par with the world standards involving zoning or ecological planning, smart sourcing to reduce carbon foot print, earthquake resistance and natural insulation that modulates the temperature.

Real estate in Palghar

Palghar, developed out of the erstwhile Thane district, includes talukas such as Palghar, Wada, Vikramgad, Jawhar, Mokhada, Dahanu, Talasari and Vasai. Wada has seen massive residential development in recent times. It is well connected to popular localities such as Badlapur East, Karjat, Powai, Mazagaon and Bandra West. Originally an agricultural centre, the area houses natural water bodies namely Pinjal and Vaitarna lakes and has witnessed rapid industrialization in the surrounding areas. Plots of around 3,000 sq ft area are available at an average price of 15 lakh.

The town of Palghar has ample social infrastructural facilities including primary and high schools, hospitals, medical centres, etc. It is also home to several Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) which provide employment opportunities to the locals. With availability of about 1,500 acres of land, the state government has been actively focusing on new township development in the area. However, as many tribal clusters thrive in the area, the government is aiming to bridge the gap between tribal rural and urban through a comprehensive development plan in areas of health, education and employment. The town with a historical appeal, Palghar has some ancient forts, palaces and temples which attracts tourists in large numbers. It gets connectivity to other parts of the state via the suburban rail network and National Highway 8 that links Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Average property rate in Palghar is around Rs 2,800 per sq ft.

Also Read: This Is What Developers Get For Constructing Green Buildings