At 60, He Left Filmmaking To Build a No-Internet Homestay Where Village Women Now Earn With Pride

“Earlier, my day would begin before sunrise and end long after everyone had eaten,” says Anjali Sameer Shitut. “I am a police patil (village level law enforcement officer), and I am also a homemaker. I managed my official duties, my household, cooking, and cleaning. That was my routine. I never thought I would earn in a way that made me feel independent.”

“For me, it was always housework and family. If I needed money, I had to ask someone at home. Sometimes, I felt embarrassed asking for money for my personal needs. I always dreamt of doing something that would allow me to stand on my own feet and manage my own expenses,” says Vaishali Shinde.

In Jambhrun, a small village tucked into the folds of Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district, mornings once unfolded in predictability. Women swept courtyards before sunrise, stacked wood for cooking fires, drew water from the wells, and prepared meals to sustain their families. Their days followed a cycle of essential, unending work, yet they were rarely rewarded with personal income or recognition. Beyond these daily routines, few people even knew the village existed. Tourism was minimal, and it remained a hidden corner, untouched by visitors and the wider world.

Today, the same village hums with a different energy. Travellers from cities arrive not for luxury, but for stillness. They come seeking clean air, unfiltered water, conversations without screens and food cooked over wood fires. They come to stay at ‘Jambhrun Trails’.

And somewhere between the arrival of guests and the slow beat of village life, something heartfelt has shifted for its women.

At the centre of this change are 60-year-old documentary filmmaker Vilas Kane and his wife, 55-year-old researcher and co-host Sucheta Vilas Kane. But the story does not begin with them. It begins with listening.

A life spent documenting the Earth

Vilas began his career in 1993 as a still photographer. By 1998, he had transitioned into documentary filmmaking, drawn instinctively towards stories of forests, rivers and fragile ecosystems. Over the next three decades, he created more than 150 films on water conservation, wildlife protection, sacred groves, and rural livelihoods.

His documentary Just Another Death, exploring snake roadkills across Maharashtra, was nominated at the VATAVARAN International Environmental Film Festival and screened at platforms across India and abroad. He also worked as an additional cameraman on Indian Leopards – The Killing Fields, telecast on National Geographic and Discovery.

For 14 years, he documented hydroelectric projects such as Koyna and Ghatghar in Maharashtra, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh and Rewa in Madhya Pradesh. He witnessed rivers being redirected, valleys reshaped, and communities adapting.

“But the more I travelled, the more I realised that sustainability is not a concept. It is a lived practice in villages,” Vilas reflects.

For nearly 25 years, he documented the Konkan region, producing over 30 films and coffee table books about its geography, biodiversity and culture. Still, he felt an unease. “People visited Konkan for the beach and seafood,” he says. “They never stayed long enough to understand the land.”

As he approached 60, he began to think about slowing down. Not retiring, but grounding himself. “I did not want to keep chasing assignments. I wanted to create something meaningful in one place,” he explains.

The stillness that started it all

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a standstill. The cameras fell silent, and the world stopped moving. In that pause, an idea long waiting in the wings began to take shape. With time finally on his side, he left Pune behind and moved to Konkan to begin what he had always dreamt of building.

In 2020, he conducted a small pilot of experiential stays at a friend’s property in Konkan. The response was encouraging. On 1 December 2021, Jambhrun Trails formally began operations in a 100-year-old ancestral house owned by Bhalchandra Shitut in Jambhrun village. 

After learning from villagers that Vilas had started a tourism venture in the Konkan, the owner reached out to him to express his interest. That outreach led to the beginning of their discussions and the foundation of their association.

Built from sturdy laterite stone, the house stood firm beneath its weathered, sloping tiled roof, tempered by years of monsoon rains. Wide verandahs welcomed the breeze, while wooden beams held the scent of time.

“To preserve a century-old home in its original form requires sincere care,” he says. “That commitment inspired me.”

They restored the house with care, adding modern facilities without altering its character. Nothing was over-polished or erased; every mark of age was preserved. “Bhalchandra had already maintained the house exceptionally well and had even installed four to five Western-style toilets, anticipating visitors. The modifications were thoughtful, making the house ready for guests while keeping its soul intact,” the former filmmaker explains.

Growth came organically, without any flashy campaigns or marketing gimmicks. “We simply told people what we were trying to do. They came, stayed with us, and immersed themselves in the beauty and pulse of village life. When they returned, they shared their experience with others, including friends and family, looking for a break from the city. That is how our story spread,” he says.

In four years, more than 2,500 visitors have stayed at Jambhrun Trails. Around 700 to 750 guests now arrive annually, many through word of mouth. “They come once and return with friends, bringing back memories, laughter, and long-forgotten family moments,” Vilas smiles.

In the chaos of city life, digital noise rules every corner. “After a day’s work, people immediately get absorbed in WhatsApp, notifications, and scrolling endlessly. Even families rarely talk anymore,” he observes. 

In this village, however, the world slows. Mobile connectivity is minimal, and the internet barely exists. “Here, you can make calls, and that is it. Within an hour, people forget about their phones entirely. After three days, families often tell us they have spoken more here than in years of city life,” he adds.

Slow living, he explains, is not just about pace; it is about perspective. On the village trails, visitors witness life unhurried, measured not by the clock but by the pattern of the land. “The villagers live simply, with minimal resources, but they are content. They reuse, recycle, and never waste. A family of four can survive on just Rs 4000 a month, and still be happy. There is no competition, no craving for more,” he explains.

There is so much tension in city life. People run endlessly, forget where to pause, and that takes a toll on family and on well-being. The former filmmaker adds, “Here, they learn to stop, breathe, and live fully in the moment. That is the change we want to bring, teaching people that life need not be rushed, and happiness can be found in simplicity.”

Their hands hold it together

While Vilas leads morning trails and conversations about ecology, Sucheta shapes the emotional landscape of the homestay.

For over two decades, she worked as a researcher, scriptwriter and narrator for environmental documentaries alongside her husband. Her understanding of storytelling, people and place now informs every aspect of hospitality at the homestay.

“In urban life, things are disjointed. Out here, everything comes together naturally,” she says. Building trust within the village took patience. Initially, the residents acted as silent observers, but within a year, they were fully engaged with the homestay and understood their intentions.

“We had to guarantee this was not an extraction. It had to be a collaboration that benefited the local community and us,” she explains.

The homestay is entirely community-driven. Four local women are directly employed, while others benefit indirectly by supplying fresh produce. 

“We do not cook anything ourselves. This is a different experiment, 100% community-based experiential tourism,” she says. “Each family contributes, for example, one provides vegetarian meals, another non-vegetarian. In emergencies, other families step in. The intention was women’s empowerment. Many of these women are homemakers, but through this project, they now earn an income,” she adds. 

Food, she says, is an experience in itself. There is no menu card; meals are 100% local and home-cooked. 

“About half of the food is cooked on the stove, which gives it a completely different taste. Rice, milk, curd, desi ghee, and turmeric are all sourced locally. Vegetables are seasonal, so we bring in fresh produce from the market when needed. Everything else comes from the village itself,” she explains.

Visitors can expect traditional Konkani cuisine. “Breakfast changes every day. You might have ghavan chutney, amboli, bhajani wada, or dadpe pohe. Whatever we serve, everyone eats together. It is part of the experience,” Sucheta says.

Anjali reflects, “While managing my official duties, I also cook and serve food at the homestay. Earning Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 a month has given me a sense of independence I never imagined.”

Vaishali adds, “With this salary, I can support my household and manage my own expenses. I feel respected and no longer have to ask anyone for money for my personal needs.”

Deepti Shinde, who helps with housekeeping at the homestay, says, “Now I can manage my own expenses and no longer have to ask anyone for money. It truly feels like my own home.” “When women earn within their own village, something internal shifts,” Sucheta says. “They begin to see possibilities.”

Water older than memory

To understand the village, you have to understand its water. A perennial stream flows through the village, sustained by porous laterite rock formed millions of years ago. Rainwater filters naturally through this rock, emerging mineral-rich and clear.

Centuries ago, villagers engineered a gravity-fed water system from this stream. Once there were 14 channels. Today, six or seven remain functional. Water flows naturally along the gradient, requiring no electricity. It irrigates mango and cashew orchards, nourishes the soil and sustains biodiversity. More than 125 bird species have been recorded here.

“This is zero-energy water management, and it has been working for 400 years,” explains Vilas. Nearby temples, also over four centuries old, stand silently among trees. “If modern structures promise 50 years, these have survived 400. We underestimate indigenous knowledge,” he adds.

A different kind of luxury

There are no televisions in the rooms at the homestay, mobile connectivity is patchy, and newspapers rarely arrive at dawn. Guests, used to constant screens and news, often arrive anxious about being ‘offline.’

“At first, they worry,” says Sucheta. “And then, almost imperceptibly, they start liking the changes.” Mornings begin at 7 am with guided trails lasting two and a half hours. Conversations flow naturally from geology to biodiversity, from temple architecture to village history.

Afternoons are left open. Guests rest by the stream, feet dipping into the cool water. Children gather fallen leaves, while adults drift into naps, free from the insistence of alarms. After 4 pm, excursions begin, either along the village trails or to nearby beaches such as Aravi and Ganpatipule, around 12 km away, for sightseeing. 

The guests spend the evenings indoors watching films created by Vilas. They can also refer to the books he has authored on the area, extending their understanding of the land, its culture, and its ecology.

Gauri Warudi (68), a retired journalist from Pune, says, “We wanted to experience rural life, the natural beauty, and the warmth of the people in Jambhrun village. Waking up to birdsong, the gurgle of the stream, and the freshness of the air was a remedy for the tired body and mind. The hospitality and amazing vegetarian spread were unforgettable. The hillside trek to see ancient petroglyphs, with Vilas explaining the marvels, was the best part of the trip.”

Suhas Belapurkar (60), from Mumbai, reflects, “We wanted to live in a traditional Konkani home, and this homestay felt authentic. The trail with the host was the highlight; his stories gave us a broader understanding of the village’s history. Being away from digital distractions for two days helped us relax completely. Experiencing heritage and sustainability firsthand was far more vivid than reading about them.”

Jui Kudav, from Pune, adds, “Reading about Konkan is like appreciating a picture from afar. Experiencing it is like living inside that picture, breathing its colours and lines. The traditional water system, the slow pace of life, and the village’s sustainability practices drew me in. The digital detox reconnected me to music, reading, and reflection.”

Bertrand Cusson, visiting from the streets of Paris, says, “Everything about Jambhrun touched me, the lush vegetation, the flowing river, peaceful forest walks, and the warmth of both villagers and fellow trekkers. Witnessing culture and environmental sensitivity shared so naturally here was gratifying. Experiencing it firsthand surpassed any theory.”

Measuring success differently

Jambhrun Trails can host up to 25 guests at a time across three four-bedded rooms and a traditional dormitory. The tariff ranges between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500 per person per day, inclusive of stay, meals and guided experiences.

However, expansion is not the goal. “If we overcrowd this place, we will destroy what makes it special,” Vilas says. “We want depth, not scale.”

Awareness within the village has grown. Families who own ancient temples and rock carvings now recognise their heritage value. Some women have begun selling cashews and homemade products to visitors.

As evening descends over Jambhrun, smoke curls gently from the kitchens and the stream murmurs its steady song. Guests gather on the verandah, unhurried, soaking in the calm of the village. In choosing to pause at 60, Vilas did not step away from work. He stepped closer to the land. And in doing so, he created space for others to stand taller within it.

All pictures courtesy Vilas Kane.

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thebetterindia.com