This Eco-friendly Homestay In Kachchh Celebrates Birds & Biodiversity In All Its Forms

Eco-friendly Homestay In Kachchh | Picture this: dawn breaks as the sun makes itself visible while you sip on your morning tea amidst a flock of 10,000 to 20,000 trumpeting cranes. Doesn't this seem like the morning of your dreams? Making this dream come true is the 60-year-old Jugal Kishor Tiwari, an ecologist and biologist who owns an experiential homestay, called Centre For Desert Ocean (CEDO) homestay for birders, in Gujarat's Kachchh district. 

Twenty years ago, in 2005, Tiwari set up this homestay in the Moti Virani village of the Kachchh district and ever since has catered to birders and tourists from across 51 countries. “While everyone keeps talking about the loss and depletion of nature, I believe in walking the talk. This homestay is my way of giving back to nature,” said Tiwari in an exclusive conversation with Outlook Traveller.

Meet Jugal Kishor Tiwari

Born and brought up in Rajasthan, Tiwari worked with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) for seven years. He was posted at locations across the country and the world—from the Dachigam National Park in Srinagar and the Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh to Eritrea in East Africa and Mexico in North America. “I came to Kachchh on January 3, 1990 to work in the Abdasa and Lakhpat area of the district. I fell in love and could never go elsewhere,” recounted Tiwari. 

Being a nature lover, when Tiwari saw everything around him bearing the brunt of development projects, he felt he needed to do something. “I wanted to contribute the little I could for the community, ecology, and biodiversity of Kachchh."

"My aim was not to bring about a revolution but to use my knowledge to help the people, farmers, local nomads, birds, animals, and plants of Kachchh,” claimed Tiwari. He continues to live in the Moti Virani village that is also home to his homestay.

From William Mark Tully to six of the 10 best birders of the world, many travellers have been guests at the CEDO homestay, that turned 10 this year. This year, CEDO also won the Gold for Sustainable Leadership in the Homestays category at the "Indian Responsible Tourism State Summit & Awards—Gujarat Chapter."

What To Expect At The CEDO Homestay?

The eight-room homestay relies solely on solar energy, has a well-laid down rain water harvesting system, and houses a nursery with over 20,000 plants. “It is not a space for everyone, particularly not for those looking for luxury. It is an experience for those who are curious about Kachchh’s biodiversity, birds, and environment,” said Tiwari. 

There are around 250 trees in CEDO’s premises; Tiwari continues to plant saplings and trees that are globally endangered and rare. One such species is Rohida (also known as Tecomella undulata or Desert Rose), the state flower of Rajasthan. And thanks to Tiwari, it is not rare in Kachchh anymore. 

The homestay gives you free access to a fossil collection that not only consists of fossils of birds and animals, but also those representing the geology of the area and its rock formations. If you are someone who is interested in culture and art, an experience at the homestay will bring you closer to local artisans and weavers from the lesser-known areas of the district. 

CEDO: A Place For All

While only those who wish to immerse themselves in the charm and beauty of Kachchh’s ecology and biodiversity sign up for a knowledge experience at CEDO, once you are there, it turns into a place for all. “Whether you are a nature lover, a hardcore birder, someone who is just starting out, or one who is fascinated by birds of various colours, we have got you covered,” assured Tiwari.

They offer safaris across various habitats of the Kachchh district, including the grasslands of Banni, the tropical thorn forests of the district, the Mandvi coastal region, and the Great Rann of Kachchh. Bird species vary across different habitats and become an attraction for birders and tourists alike. 

“You need more than a lifetime to understand Banni,” said Tiwari, who has been studying the ecosystem. It is spread in an area of 3,847 sq km with a population of 1 lakh across 46 villages. 

“There are some people who come with a certain list of species that they wish to spot while others are just curious about the 250 species of birds that exist in the region,” explained Tiwari. He also mentioned that when birders wish to spot rare species of birds, they have to stay longer and carry out multiple visits to finally spot their muse. 

However, even if you are a non-birder and wish to spend a weekend exploring the rich biodiversity and ecology of Kachchh, CEDO homestay for birders is the place to be—to learn, connect, and understand nature.