Dahanu

A drive along the picturesque Sahyadris mountain range and crisp coastal air on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway takes you to Dahanu taluka, famous for its chikoo 'wadis', eccentric Zoroastrian community and self respecting Warlis. Referred to as the fruit bowl of the region and located between majestic hills and vast expanses of the Arabian sea, Dahanu lies only two and a half hours away from Mumbai, Surat and Nasik by road and rail.

Westward flowing rivers and rivulets emerging from gentle slopes, traversing through thick forests will greet you as you leave the highway to enter the sleepy tribal hamlet of Sogve. There is little chance of you losing the way if you follow the smell of the chikoo orchards. Sogve village, where Tamarind Tree is situated is approximately 25 kms off the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway (at Charoti).

Tamarind Tree at Sogve

Tamarind Tree is a thirteen acre chemical free orchard situated on the banks of the perennial Gorduna river (popularly known as the Ashagad river), growing chikoos, coconuts, guavas, sitaphals, papanas and traditional varieties of rice and vegetables.

Entirely run on drip irrigation, the farm has a surface well for its agricultural and domestic purposes. It also has cattle and a gobar gas plant to cook food and as fertilizer. 

Besides the farm, Tamarind Tree has created a space for reflection, debate and discussion. Four ecologically sensitive cottages made of wood, bamboo mats and cowdung (as walls) running on solar energy are used by students, activists, artists, researchers, writers to meet, discuss or simply be.

Traditional variety of rice (Padmera)