Deserts are magical places, offering spectacular vistas, dances of colours, undulating dunes, sounds of silence and breath-taking starry skies.The Thar desert has all this and much more. Area wise Thar Desert would rank around 20th. However, it is the most populated desert in the world.
The keepers of life in the Thar desert are the plants. The plants are almost invisible - they are dry rather than lush and most of them have reduced their surface area through adaptations to prevent transpiration. People live on foraged foods to break the spell of droughts. Whatever cannot be eaten by humans is consumed by the cattle. This is the reason you see a pastoral way of life here - camels, goats and cows are a common sight. The locals have a deep bonding with the plants. Plants permeate in the cuisine, music, rituals and the culture.
Kaner Retreat is located next to a sacred grove (Oran). Oran is a vast stretch of land given to the community in the name of a deity. No cutting or pruning of plants is allowed here. People can forage and the cattle can graze - this practice, followed for centuries, has allowed preservation of the desert ecosystem. And, when you protect this first link in the food chain, you ensure that the birds, animals and humans survive and thrive.
When you visit Kaner, you can experience the power of the desert plants and the chain of life around them. A guided botanical walk in the unspoilt Oran not only introduces you to the plants but also to the culture of Thar Desert. Inside Kaner we showcase rare desert plants in micro habitats.As you move from one exhibit to the next, more stories of survival unravel.
Continuing with the Botanical narrative, we have themed our villas around the local plants. Commissioned botanical art not only adds a fresh charm, it also documents the rare features of the desert plants. A private courtyard inside the villa offers a scented green haven.
Our desert signature cuisine is created using foraged ingredients, botanical infusions and seasonal produce.
The resilience of desert plants spread over centuries has created a micro-climate that now supports non-native plants. The desert’s bounty includes Pomegranates, Limes, Figs, Dates and Olives. We are excited to include this new produce in our culinary offering. One of our signature experiences is lunch at an Olive grove. Here you can see thousands of Olive trees, enjoy a Mediterranean inspired lunch and witness the Thar Desert turn over a new leaf.
The keepers of life in the Thar desert are the plants. The plants are almost invisible - they are dry rather than lush and most of them have reduced their surface area through adaptations to prevent transpiration. People live on foraged foods to break the spell of droughts. Whatever cannot be eaten by humans is consumed by the cattle. This is the reason you see a pastoral way of life here - camels, goats and cows are a common sight. The locals have a deep bonding with the plants. Plants permeate in the cuisine, music, rituals and the culture.
Kaner Retreat is located next to a sacred grove (Oran). Oran is a vast stretch of land given to the community in the name of a deity. No cutting or pruning of plants is allowed here. People can forage and the cattle can graze - this practice, followed for centuries, has allowed preservation of the desert ecosystem. And, when you protect this first link in the food chain, you ensure that the birds, animals and humans survive and thrive.
When you visit Kaner, you can experience the power of the desert plants and the chain of life around them. A guided botanical walk in the unspoilt Oran not only introduces you to the plants but also to the culture of Thar Desert. Inside Kaner we showcase rare desert plants in micro habitats.As you move from one exhibit to the next, more stories of survival unravel.
Continuing with the Botanical narrative, we have themed our villas around the local plants. Commissioned botanical art not only adds a fresh charm, it also documents the rare features of the desert plants. A private courtyard inside the villa offers a scented green haven.
Our desert signature cuisine is created using foraged ingredients, botanical infusions and seasonal produce.
The resilience of desert plants spread over centuries has created a micro-climate that now supports non-native plants. The desert’s bounty includes Pomegranates, Limes, Figs, Dates and Olives. We are excited to include this new produce in our culinary offering. One of our signature experiences is lunch at an Olive grove. Here you can see thousands of Olive trees, enjoy a Mediterranean inspired lunch and witness the Thar Desert turn over a new leaf.
