Situated along the River Sai and just 130 km from Mumbai is Dehna, a small village overlooking the Ajoba hills. It provides a peaceful retreat from the fast-paced life of urban centres. Life here is centred around farming, animal husbandry, and traditional crafts.
Dehna is part of the Grassroutes, a rural tourism initiative founded by Inir Pinheiro a few years back. The initiative offers responsible tourism to those who want to give back something to the village community. For more rural experiences, visit www.grassroutes.co.in and book a visit to Dehna now.
The landscape here is dominated by vast farmlands, and age-old organic farming practices are still in use. During your visit, try to witness the monsoon rice cultivation or get involved in harvesting crops like sugarcane, millet, and vegetables. Surrounded by rolling hills, Dehna is an ideal location for nature walks and treks, while nearby waterfalls and rivers offer picturesque views and opportunities to relax and connect with nature.
The village community is warm and welcoming, eager to host you in their homes. They invite you to savour local recipes, learn traditional arts and crafts (Warli painting), and immerse yourself in their way of life.
You can experience vibrant Lavani dances, listen to fascinating local stories, and even participate in daily activities like milking cows, making butter the traditional way, or weaving bamboo baskets. For those planning an extended stay, there are also opportunities to volunteer and contribute to the community, making your visit even more meaningful.
From Dehna, you can also visit other tribal villages, including Chinchwadi, Kukrichiwadi and Kamatwadi.
Dehna is also popular for its firefly festivals (Purushwadi) when thousands of fireflies brighten the night with their glows and offer a spectacular night of wonder under the stars. Please note that the appearance of fireflies depends strictly upon the weather conditions and cannot be predicted till the last minute.
Read before you travel
As travellers, we all have a role to play to help preserve the beauty of lesser-explored destinations. Over-tourism can put undue pressure on local communities, ecosystems, and cultural heritage. By choosing offbeat locations and practising responsible travel, we can reduce our impact and help sustain these places for future generations. Let’s make conscious choices. Respect local customs, avoid waste, and tread lightly on nature. Ensure that you get back your rubbish or dispose of it appropriately.
*All images Copyright https://www.facebook.com/grassroutes.journeys
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