Key points
- India is in lockdown due to COVID-19 since 23 March.
- All at Ikaki Bagh and Ikaki Niwas are safe
- We are using this time to get everything super to welcome you here when the world re-opens
On 23 March, the Indian Government declared a strict lockdown due to the COVID-19. You can follow updates on the lockdown on the official Indian Government website.
The Government is focused on:
- protecting the health of the people, and
- trying to control the heavy economic impacts.
It is a difficult time for many people in India, especially the poor. Tourism and the agricultural supply chain are being hit hard.
Ikaki Bagh and Jihnjha Village
All at Ikaki Bagh and the neighbouring Jhinjha Village are safe. It is harvest time. Kokil and Kaka, our two farmhands are busy bringing in the wheat crop.
Since 2014-15, Rajasthan has become the highest producing state. We are proud to play our bit in the national effort to keep agricultural production going.
Jhinjha Village is also safe. The village has lived for many decades of deep social disadvantage. This includes being largely ignored by most people. It is ironic this long experience of social isolation is now an advantage.
The villagers are skilled in working together as a single community. They are used to making do with what they can grow for themselves. However, the village is dealing with hardships. Many of the men of the village are currently unable to work as labourers on road construction and in Jaipur City. Women in the village have also lost the small amount of income they get from sewing work.
Our local school has been closed since the lockdown. The children are safe at home with their families. Annual Summer holidays were due to start in early May so effectively these holidays have come early.
Ikaki Niwas
In normal times, this is a quiet time of year for tourists visiting Jaipur. This year, it is deserted. Everyone is directed to stay at home.
We usually use this time of year to give the hotel a thorough clean and deal with small maintenance jobs. This year we are giving the hotel a deep clean end to end, top to bottom.
All carpets, curtains, soft furnishings and linen are being deep steam cleaned. All the furniture, fittings and decorative accessories around the hotel are also being intensively cleaned.
We all feel when we re-open the hotel will look better than new 😊.
For those of you have met JD, Devika, their boys and parents we can report they are well. The staff of the hotel are all safe and working.
JD is taking the opportunity to catch up on reading and meditating. This includes rereading, ‘The Story of My Experiments with Truth’ by Mahatma Gandhi (1922).
This book is Gandhi’s autobiography from his early childhood through to 1921. The book is made up of instalments in his journal from 1925 to 1929.
For many, this book continues to offer wisdom and guidance relevant to today.
Like so many in the world, we are facing an uncertain future.
However, we are also optimists. We are doing everything in our own power to be ready to offer visitors even better experiences in the future.
Guest Cottages for Ikaki Bagh
We are working with a local architect on the design of up to five guest cottages to be built at Ikaki Bagh. The cottages will be providing superior accommodation using an open plan style.
The cottages will be fully equipped with air conditioning and heating. All the comforts of modern and secure accommodation will be included. Each cottage has its own large verandah, plunge pool and relaxing day bed.
The cottages will be decorated inspired in a style inspired by traditional arts and crafts of Rajasthan.
Our aim is to give you a completely immersive experience surrounded by the Indian countryside. Here you can relax and unwind. You can also seek out local activities, discover local wildlife and learn more about ow are farm works.
All meals will be prepared by our own staff inspired by our local produce and recipes. Meals can be enjoyed in your cottage or in our dining room. Cooking classes can also be arranged.
Construction of the cottages will provide employment for some of the local people. We are excited to get moving.
Volunteer Accommodation
We have also enjoyed hosting visitors working as volunteers in our Main Building at Ikaki Bagh. The accommodation is a secure, comfortable dormitory style with fully equipped bathroom facilities. This accommodation also enjoys beautiful, sweeping views across the countryside.
We are looking forward to making some more improvements to this accommodation with additional furniture and furnishings.
Other initiatives
We are also using this lockdown period to do some other activities including:
- Working with our architect on plans for the Training and Education Centre
- Continuing negotiations with the Local Primary School for the construction of the new toilet block
- Setting up a Tripadvisor account to support Ikaki Bagh
- Working with selected local travel agents so that they can better promote Ikaki Bagh when we re-open
- Continue to publish our series of blogs.
Please keep in touch our progress via Facebook page and our Instagram account.
Thank you
We offer our heartfelt thanks to those frontline healthcare workers around the world. They continue to show dedication and care for our communities. They do this in the face of danger to themselves
We also thank all our friends and supporters that have stayed with us and visited us over years. We have heard from quite a few of you and appreciate your care and kindness.