About this Place
Navadarshanam is a self-sufficient community and an experiment in alternative living, spanning 115-120 acres near Thally, Tamil Nadu. It serves as a living laboratory for ecological restoration, organic farming, and sustainable practices, offering a serene environment for those seeking a deeper connection with nature and a more conscious way of life.
It provides simple, eco-friendly accommodation and serves traditional, organic, wholesome, vegan food, mostly grown on-site. The community originated from a study circle in the 1970s-80s, recognizing the growing disconnect between individuals, nature, and the 'Creative Power' due to urban-industrial lifestyles.
Established in 1990 on 115 acres of degraded land, it focuses on eco-restoration, organic farming, alternative energy (solar and biogas), water harvesting, and promoting healthier, traditional foods. Buildings are constructed using eco-friendly methods like compressed mud blocks, minimizing energy needs.
Its core principle is 'inner work' (spiritual harmony) reflecting in 'outer work' (ecological balance), aiming for freedom from passions like anger, greed, and ego. It operates on donations and revenue from food products, not external funding, and adheres to non-individual ownership of land and property.
