Svanir Wilderness Ecostay

Svanir isn’t designed as a hotel. Guests are treated as extended family members and looked after similarly. Meals are prepared from organically grown or locally sourced fresh vegetables. At all meals, at least one member of the family dines with the guests engaging them, if they so wish to, in conversation that may range from the general to specifics. Obviously, therefore, we are discerning about who we are inviting to stay at our home.
Inside the property we organize a walk around trees and the many stories attached to them like the lemon tree which started fruiting only when we started living here or the infant Jackfruit tree which had to be taped together (Cyclone Fani caused a immense amount of damage in Puri & Bhubaneswar) and now has flourished. Like the Japanese concept of ‘Forest Bathing’, guests seem to find the walk and its after effects quite relaxing. Closer to home, we take our guests to explore our village surroundings. A leisurely stroll takes us along mango orchids, coconut plantations, a traditional village temple under a tree, paddy fields, a lily pond and finally if interested to see how the villagers live.

The founders of Svanir are Indrani Chakraborty and Soumya Mukherji. Soumya has more than 10 years of experience in the travel domain, travelling all over the Indian subcontinent to make friends with locals and using their insights to develop unique experiences for inquisitive, savvy travellers. Indrani, on the other hand, was a hardcore marketing specialist for an international company. Her travels through the interiors of Odisha for work made her fall in love with the state. The couple followed their hearts and left behind the hustle and bustle of the city to create a homestay that celebrates their love for nature and people.

Svanir mimics the beautiful yet minimalist ‘Santhal’ (tribal community of Odisha and Bengal) homes and their bond with nature. We’ve consciously kept the built-up area to a minimum so that travellers can wake up to bird songs or glimpse a bird at the window while enjoying a morning cup of tea. At Svanir, we hope to attract the new-age travellers who want to explore, immerse, and interact with the local community. Soumya & Indrani are passionate about offering a tranquil and enchanting experience to our guests, where they can rediscover themselves, bond with their loved ones, and appreciate the beauty of the surroundings and nature. We are also committed to making a positive difference in the lives of the local community, especially women, by giving them a chance to work and learn new skills.