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Tucked away just outside the city limits of Jaipur in an unassuming Rajasthani village, sits Savista Retreat, a hidden gem that feels like an escape from urban noise. I arrived at Savista in October 2024. Between October and March – the cool, dry season in Jaipur – is the best time to be in Rajasthan. By arriving at the end of September/early October, just at the end of the off-season, I was able to avoid both the post-monsoon humidity and the year-end tourist crowds.
Savista proved to be far more than a hotel. It is what its website describes it as: an eco-retreat, where I could breathe fresh country air and reconnect with nature, offering “clean air, pure natural water, [and] farm fresh foods,” all on their 12-acre gardens and cropland. According to a 2025 online travel report, its surveys report 83–84% of travelers across the world say that sustainable, eco-friendly options are important to them when booking travel.
Global travellers are now more interested in “experiential, exo-conscious” travel. They want authentic cultural immersion and mindful travel experiences. Not just the experience of sitting in city tour buses or Instagram photos of themselves in tourist hubs.
This means that travel outside of the predictable ‘travel rush’ seasons to off-beat destinations, eating farm-to-table and experiencing wellness retreats, is on an upward trend. While this will surprise no one, I can say for myself that it was my discovery of Savista and my experience of staying there that made “eco-friendly” travel real; for Savista is a rural boutique hotel based on green philosophy, organic agriculture, and local communities.
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Sustainable Living and Eco-Friendly Design
Savista Retreat started out as a “passion project” in sustainable living. The owners created it by re-purposing the traditional Rajasthani haveli architecture and integrating it with modern comforts, while keeping the environmental impacts as low as possible. The estate harvests rainwater to recharge groundwater, and uses solar panels power by the Rajasthan sun to heat water.
As for me, I loved the fact that there were no plastic water bottles in sight: Savista’s drinking water comes from deep mineral wells on the farm. The entire property is chemical-free since organic fertilisers and pesticides are used in farming operations, the swimming pool has no chlorine, and the pool water is reused to irrigate the gardens, thus keeping the pool water refilled constantly and fresh..
This eco-friendly boutique hotel near Jaipur offering a cultural experience of Rajasthan is a place where luxury meets sustainability. While all the guest rooms are individually styled and decorated, they are simple and cozy rather than ostentatiously decorated. Given the small number of rooms, Savista felt exclusive and tranquil. Wandering through Savista’s lit courtyard and gardens one evening I thought, “Wow, this is as peaceful as advertised”.
Each design element seems chosen for its ability to foster serenity: whitewashed walls, carved wooden furniture, natural textiles, natural ventilation rather than loud air-con. The overall design is one of rustic elegance – a kind of quiet luxury, in which nature is the star of the show.
Farm-to-Table Dining and Organic Cuisine
One of Savista’s highlights is farm-to-fork dining. They grow most of their vegetables, grains, beans and oilseeds right on site, using traditional organic methods. Even the milk and yogurt came from cows and buffalos on the farm that eat the fresh grass of its meadows.
The vegetarian spread was freshly cooked, varied and different at every meal, and each meal felt like a celebration. I remember eating dinner by candle light, and realizing that every bite I was enjoying was not only delicious, but had been grown responsibly and cooked consciously. Eating at Savista really was an experience that “nourishes the senses,”, as their website describes.
One day, I joined a cooking class under a breezy pergola surrounded by trees and flowering shrubs. One of their chefs instructed us on how to roll masala rotis, make delectable daal and put together spicy chutneys from fresh ingredients. These plant based cooking classes were part of the retreat.
We learned about local ingredients that we didn’t even know existed, and cooking techniques that were based in ancient Ayurvedic knowledge – all vegetarian and healthy. When I returned home, I tried to recreate that simple daal recipe. I was successful! Every time I make it, it reminds me of the clay oven fire and the friendship of the village cook stoking it.
Cultural Immersion & Experiential Workshops
Savista isn’t just a place to relax by the pool (although that was nice too). It was designed for experiential travel. I spent my mornings taking workshops and afternoons walking through villages with a guide. Savista has many cultural programs to offer, either on-site or nearby, such as learning hand block printing using natural dyes from local artisans, watching other local handicrafts being made, sitting on the ground and learning to mould clay on a potter’s wheel while being watched over by the local hereditary potter.
It was not fancy studio pottery, but it was hands-on fun to make simple containers using ancient methods passed down unchanged. We sampled most of the activities on offer, including travelling at snail’s pace on an old camel drawn cart to visit a local school, and then on to a couple of small farms where we were greeted spontaneously by grown ups and children alike and offered sweet chai. We went into Jaipur city one day and wandered through narrow streets and bazaars and got a taste of the old walled city.
Savista also has bicycles you can rent and sports equipment – never a dull moment! One afternoon, several of us challenged one another to a friendly game of tennis on the outdoor courts. Later, I took a jog down one of the quiet dirt lanes to stretch my legs and (not to mention) I saw some brilliant green parakeets and kingfishers in the trees during my strolls! These relaxed walks around the village, along with the passing minutes of bird watching made me feel connected to this beautiful piece of landscape.
Experiential Activities at Savista:
- Block-printing workshop with artisans.
- Traditional pottery lesson at a rural studio.
- Village immersion: school visits, farms, and rides on camel carts.
- Visit to a paper making factory.
- Walking the local markets and bazaars in Jaipur’s historic center.
Outdoor Adventures and Day Trips
There are also excursions away from Savista if you are looking for off-path adventures. I finally got to take advantage of the day trips available through the retreat:
- Chand Baori (Abhaneri Stepwell): This is a 90-minute drive to an ancient multi-story stepwell. I would describe it as an architectural wonder! We descended into its geometric steps – here is an ideal picture to document how rural Rajasthan feels about history.
- Sambhar Salt Lake: This is the largest inland salt lake in India, with a 2-hour drive heading west. It was a brisk winter morning during my trip when we set out and were greeted by pink flamingos and many other birds roosting in the shallow water. (I generally do not birdwatch, though I will risk some shame in admitting that I will always remember seeing multiple flocks of pink flamingos against the white salt flats.)
- Pushkar: We travelled two hours to the sacred town of Pushkar, which is surrounded by the Aravalli hills to see the Brahma Temple and roam around the holy lake. If you plan to go in November, Pushkar transforms when the festivities of the annual camel fair descend on the town. Savista can take care of that, also.
- Tilonia (Barefoot College): This unassuming village is home to an inspiring rural college that focuses on solar power and women’s education. We got to visit the campus and see villagers learn sustainable trades.
- Elefantastic Elephant Sanctuary: One of the best experiences was going to a local elephant sanctuary. Elefantastic is a conservation group based in Jaipur (ranked #3 in “Things to Do in India” on TripAdvisor), and they allow visitors to bathe and feed rescued elephants. It felt wonderful to to learn about elephants and be around these gentle animals in an ethical way.
- Jaipur City Tours: Well, of course, the Pink City is a must. Savista can take you to Jaipur so that you can explore Amer Fort, City Palace, or do a little shopping in Johari Bazaar for blue pottery. It’s so nice to return to Savista after a day in Jaipur to relax in the stars in the peaceful countryside.
Read Also : 3 Days in Jaipur: The Ultimate Itinerary for Exploring the Pink City
Wellness, Yoga and Farm-to-Table Relaxation
Wellness is integrated into Savista’s ethos. Every morning at sunrise, I attended a small yoga class on the lawn, making Savista Retreat a lovely yoga and wellness retreat in Jaipur. Pure bliss was listening to the birds chirping while the instructor lead us through sun salutations.
The retreat also offered Ayurvedic massages and steam baths. One afternoon, after a long day of exploring, I treated myself to a peaceful massage using herbal oils made with local plants. The spa building is minimal with bamboo accents – as crisp as the natural treatments they provided.
The natural cuisine reinforces the wellness vibe. Each meal at Savista is filling but light, relatively healthy, and infused with local spices and vegetables – think millets and lentils, homemade yogurt and ghee, and thalis of colorful curries. (No fried or greasy foods here – just nutritious and tasty Indian cuisine that would leave even the heaviest eaters feeling nourished). The hosts even blended their evening teas, lemongrass and ginger from the garden, with healthy intention.
For downtime, I favored the peaceful hammock under the neem tree to hang out. I would read or nap, and just listen to the sound of whatever the wind was doing to the leaves. The house dogs would wander by, and the friendly cows would meander through – an engaging conversation with the camels would also be quite interesting, but we never did get to that point. Everything existed in this unhurried manner. This is precisely the type of wellness retreat experience that many travelers want – yoga, spa, and healthy Isaan farm food – all in the same venue.
Wellness Highlights:
- Yoga Classes: Daily yoga classes on the yoga deck in the garden, overlooking the lake with a lawn for poses.
- Ayurveda & Spa: Ayurvedic consultations, massages, and an herbal steam room.
- Natural Pool: A refreshing swim in a swimming pool that is clean and doesn’t have chlorine.
- Healthy Cuisine: While we enjoyed plenty of fresh, vegetarian farm-to-table meals we enjoyed herbal teas to nourish both body and soul.
A Deeper Connection to Rajasthani Culture
My time at Savista was not just about extravagance – it was like I was genuinely connected to Rajasthan. By the last morning, I was greeting staff by name and smiling at village children who waved while I jogged by. One afternoon, I even found myself sitting under a neem tree, playing cricket with local teenage boys, and laughing harder than I had in a long time (and definitely more than during any prior travel!).
One evening, when gathered by a bonfire, we talked with other guests over hot chai, which reinforced what I love the most about experiential travel: you leave with memories of people and traditions, not just images of sites.
Savista certainly embraced this philosophy. As one British guest remarked; “Savista is every bit as beautiful and peaceful as the photos, and we loved the united meals – I cannot honestly say we had that anywhere else in India….” What the retreat offered was a true cultural immersion, linking luxury and soul – creating a connection with an organic farm and visits to the local schools.
Planning a trip to Jaipur between September 2025 and March 2026? Consider trading a city hotel for a countryside retreat. Here relaxation meets adventure, and every day provides the opportunity to discover new local flavor: block prints, spice markets, rural fairs, or just sunrise over the fields. Instead of a list of monuments, you will depart having settled in: ‘I have discovered an amazing place that is rooted in traditions of Rajasthan, nature, and me.’
Savista Retreat is a reminder of how travel can be gentle on the planet and profound for the traveller. I left with more than souvenirs when I packed my bags. I carried into the world fresh views on sustainability and respect for culture. If you are a solo adventurer, or a family seeking to reconnect, or a traveller with the eco-friendly mindset, Savista shows you a different authentic journey within Jaipur beyond the tourist map.
“We really enjoyed the tranquil setting and… unbelievable food!” – every Aussie hotel guest would agree with these sentiments. It is hard not to have the same feelings as you enjoy masala chai under a peepal tree at Savista. Take the road less travelled here – and maybe find yourself with a travelling story that will be a regular part of story time.
