Neha Mehrotra
22-Sep-2025
Wellness has moved beyond yoga mats and spa rooms. The next frontier? Regenerative farm stays that heal both people and the planet.
Lately, life has begun to feel a lot like Stanley Hudson from The Office—the same routines on loop, staring at the clock and counting down the hours until the day is done and questioning why weekends can’t be longer. We’ve crowned wellness as the next big thing, yet modern work culture remains relentless, leaving little space to pause and truly recharge.
Which is why the concept of slow living and reconnecting with nature feels more relevant than ever. Regenerative farm stays and agritourism are having a major facelift, and people are more than ready to swap their luxuries for muddy boots and handpicking food from farms. “Coming back to forests and nature is therapeutic, as they had long been our home during human evolution,” says Prathamesh Savant, Founder of Maachli Farmstay. "City dwellers have discovered that infinite happiness is possible only through minimising carbon footprints and living an ecological and sustainable lifestyle."
(Maachli Farmstay, Maharashtra)
Prathamesh’s experience tracks. Recent figures show that the agritourism market in India generated a revenue of USD 206.8 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 487.1 million by 2030. “By engaging in farming, gardening, and mindful outdoor activities, our guests have experienced reduced stress, improved mental clarity, and even found a sense of purpose,” shares Thendup Bhutia, Founder of Yangsum Heritage Farm, Sikkim.
(Farming at Yangsum Heritage Farm, Sikkim)
What is Regenerative Travel?
“Regenerative travel and farm stays allow travellers to immerse themselves in natural environments, embrace natural produce, experience sustainable practices, and also give back to nature,” explains Aaliya Ahuja- Founder of Oleander Farms, Karjat. This new style of travel helps you slip into the rhythms of slow country living while actively restoring both yourself and the environment. You don’t just avoid harm but actually contribute to the flourishing of the land and community you visit.
(Oleander Farms, Karjat)
Thendup Bhutia highlights, “It also means leaving a place better than you found it through ecological restoration, empowering local communities, and enriching cultural heritage.” “It creates mutual growth: the land, community, and traveller all benefit and thrive.”
Where does Wellness Fit into It?
A University of Michigan study found that just 20 minutes in nature reduced cortisol levels by about 21%, making it one of the simplest, most effective stress busters. Now if 20 minutes can do that, imagine what a few days or a weekend getaway might unlock.
(Fagunia Farmstay, Nainital)
“Sometimes it is essential to switch off and just immerse oneself in the natural world,” explains Anil Cherukupalli, Co-founder, Fagunia Farmstay, Nanital. Set in a quiet little hamlet on the outskirts of Nainital, sustainable living is the underpinning of this cosy mountain retreat where everything here is in harmony with nature – from its sweeping forest views and warm rustic interiors to its pahadi cuisine. “We offer guided treks through gorgeous forests and rivers and immersive farm walks through our regenerative permaculture farm,” Anil adds. “You can also engage yourself with our book collection, play different board games, make homemade pizzas, and participate in our bread-baking workshop.”
(Farm tour at Fagunia Farmstay, Nainital)
Spending time on a farm naturally lowers stress levels, and the fresh air, movement, and home-grown food help improve digestion, support the immune system, and regulate sleep cycles. Exposure to natural light and greenery lowers cortisol levels, reduces blood pressure, and improves heart rate variability. Additionally, these small but consistent interactions with the outdoors can help recalibrate one’s hormonal balance, enhance mood, and strengthen overall wellbeing.
(Sohum Spa at Oleander Farms in Karjat)
Oleander Farms in Karjat brings this philosophy to life. Spread across 180 acres, the property is designed to bring nature inwards, with walking trails that wind past lakes, hilltops, and gardens. “Guests can choose from yoga, meditation, or nature trails, or simply take slow strolls across the estate as a mindful activity,” shares founder Aaliya Ahuja. “For those curious about sustainability, we also offer tours of our solar panels, water bottling plant, composting unit, and fields where rice, fruits, and spices are grown — much of which makes its way to the menus and even our in-house craft beer,” she adds.
What does a Regenerative Farm Stay Offer?
(Cook traditional Malvani food over a wood fire at Maachli Farmstay.)
Farm stays undoubtedly dawn a new era of wellness tourism. Tucked away in the coastal belt of Sindhudurg, Maachli is designed for pure disconnection and deep rest. Rustic cottages sit within dense coconut and spice plantations, and alarms are replaced with birdsong. “Our plantation is an ecological hotspot that is home to rare flora and fauna, and we encourage guests to immerse themselves in this,” says founder Prathamesh Savant. “We take them on plantation tours through coconut, areca nut, and banana groves, introduce them to medicinal plants, and even show them our agroforestry patch where farming and forests coexist in harmony.” Here you can also indulge in various other grounding experiences, like guided walks to nearby plateaus and sacred groves, pottery workshops, or learning to cook traditional Malvani and ecological recipes over a wood fire.
Far East at Yangsum Heritage Farm, tucked away in the countryside of West Sikkim with Kangchenjunga and the Singelila Range as its backdrop, is all about switching off and reconnecting with nature. “Activities include guided farm walks, seed-to-table cooking sessions, meditation or yoga in natural settings, tree planting, organic farming workshops, and nature treks,” explains Mr. Bhutia. The 44-acre farm is fully organic, with pine, rhododendrons, fruit plantations, and seasonal vegetables, offering guests a hands-on experience of farm life. "You can explore village trails, go birdwatching, learn traditional Sikkimese cooking on a wood-burning hearth, or trek through rhododendron forests to catch breathtaking views of Kangchenjunga.”
(Yangsum Heritage Farm, Sikkim)
Final Words: Should You Plan a Farm Vacation?
Spending a weekend on a farm is a reminder of how life was meant to be lived. Watching where your food grows, seeing animals move freely, breathing in clean air…it’s the kind of simple joy city life rarely allows. Out here, wellness doesn’t feel like something you chase; it just happens naturally.
So why not trade a city weekend for a farm stay and see how it feels?
