A New Way to Live

On the outskirts of Jaipur lies Dhun, an exclusive sanctuary where indigenous knowledge systems and Al are being integrated to reimagine the future of human settlements.

- Poorvi Singhal

Imagine 500 acres of once-barren land being slowly resuscitated through indigenous knowledge systems and artificial intelligence to create a living and breathing space that can accommodate up to 8,500 people. Located 36 kilometres from the city centre of Jaipur is Dhun—a reimagined space for living, learning, and recreation.

“What's special to me is the possibility that Dhun can serve as a model for other landscapes. Nearly one-fifth of the earth's land is barren. If we can turn a desert into a thriving multi-generational community, why not elsewhere?” says Manvendra Singh Shekhawat, entrepreneur and innovator who supports regenerative living.

Since 2013, he and his team have been working towards creating a settlement that they hope is less a “burden” and more a “living inheritance” for generations to come. Shekhawat is known for his luxury hospitality ventures including the heritage hotel Narendra Bhawan Bikaner—once the residence of Maharaja Narendra Singh, the last maharaja of the city—and Suryagarh Jaisalmer.

Water Brings Life

Dhun's water system harvests almost 550 million litres of rainwater annually, thanks to the chauka system, a traditional rainwater harvesting method in which interconnected rectangular pits or chaukas collect the rainwater runoff. This system ensures that water is available throughout the year. With water came Dhun's first residents—180 plus species of fauna claiming the length and breadth of The estate. Quails, owls, peacocks, partridges, mongoose, jackals, and horses follow. The Tharparkar, a cattle breed found mainly across the Thar belt, known to produce quality milk even in harsh, arid climates can also be found grazing here.