CPREEC - EIACP Programme Centre, Resource Partner on Ecological Heritage and Sacred Sites of India

Dharur in Vikarabad is now site for Telangana Heritage Centre which will showcase an eco-friendly building experience. The heritage centre inaugurated on October 29 will also help preserve local cultural practices.

Spread over 24.5 acres, this centre is expected to preserve local craftsmanship and nurture and support local rural human resource. The centre’s authorities have also decided to conserve and protect local environment. The heritage centre, which will start functioning fully in 2018, will support Saturday Angadi in the mandal, which hosts potters, bamboo weavers, Lambadi artisans, and local weavers. The establishment will be run by Our Sacred Space, a private organisation for ecology conservation.

The centre will also have many rare fauna, including Baobabs, Nagalingam and timber trees of various species. South Indian Temple tree, the Kalabash or Beggar-Bowl tree has also been planted. Several flowering trees and shrubs have also been planted, including pride of India, jasmine, jacaranda, gardenia, kamini and oleandar. The owners have also planned a food forest close to the retreat building, which will host several fruit trees.

Retreats to be hosted

The centre will host three special residential retreats starting next year. The first will include a contemplative dance retreat by Jyothi Rout from California Bay area. The other two retreats will be a yoga, nutrition and spinning retreat. An alternative education retreat is also planned with K.B. Jinnan, an alternative thinker and educationist. In the coming years, other retreats, including dance, yoga, writing, kalari and night camping, will be organised.

Local sightseeing for retreat residents will include a kayaking trip in Kotapally boating project on the Kotapally Reservoir.

Source: The Hindu