Riding to ProtoVillage, AP, INDIA.
Imagine riding to an ideal village, one that has everything going for it to sustain and where anybody can feel at home. This isn’t a dream, this is ProtoVillage.
Download the Riding to ProtoVillage Trail
The Trail was created using BluRydr and is best viewed inside the app.
Step 1. Download the BluRydr App,
Step 2. Click the link below on your phone and it will launch the app directly.
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Download Trail –> The Ride to ProtoVillage <
Trail overview
ProtoVillage is located 115kms north of Bangalore in Andhra Pradesh. It is an attempt by Kalyan Akkipedi, his family and the rest of the members, to create the prototype of a rural community that enjoys autonomy with respect to its basic needs through ecologically sustainable ways. It is a community in which all living forms, including humans, have “enough” to live in dignity.
We decided to ride from Bangalore to ProtoVillage with Bulu Biker and a group of like-minded bikers (and subscriber friends) he invited via his Youtube Channel. You can watch the video he made about the ride here
The road that leads to this model village is the same NH44 that goes towards Hyderabad. It’s a fast and smooth four-lane highway that is arrow straight in most sections and is ideal if you ride a fast and comfortable motorcycle. The last section is through some broken and slippery sections, so be careful and have fun. The 115km route can be covered in a very short time so you don’t have to leave very early.
Places to see on route
The ride to ProtoVillage takes you through the famous Nandi Hills and Chikkaballapura. The latter is known for temples and offers many sites to trek and rock climb. You can also visit Kaivara. The historic town was a part of the epic Mahabharata. The place was also known to be the temporary home to the Pandavas when the lived in exile.
ProtoVillage is actually situated in the second driest district in India (Anantpur, Andhra Pradesh).
Did you know
Once you get there
One needs to call ProtoVillage beforehand so that the people in the community are aware that you are joining them. We did and 35 of us were welcomed personally by Kalyan and his family and the families that live there. Since it is a role model village, there is everything that one needs to call enough. It is a community, for the villagers, by the villagers.
Food is produced locally and is pure and organic. The people at ProtoVillage had prepared breakfast for us using local produce and treated us some yummy millet idlis and upma. It was nice to know that we actually ate something that was healthy, tasty and organic at the same time. After the breakfast and introducing each other, Kalyan took us for a tour around the 12.5-acre village. There are various activities and workshops for the children of the village. Volunteers teach the children and everyone takes part. ProtoVillage is self-reliant when it comes to power supply and there’s a small windmill that generates 3Kw of power, taking care of most needs.
Make sure you step out later in the day to avoid the harsh sun. The children later showed us how to make handmade soap. There are various types that one can choose from and even take back home by contributing to ProtoVillage. We spent some time after this just lying down and resting under the trees. The structures and houses built in the village aren’t made up of cement but by using lime like it was done traditionally. It’s amazing that a village like this exists, especially this close to Bangalore.
We had a scrumptious South-Indian meal made up of local ingredients and dived deeper into the ProtoVillage way of living and understand why more such villages must be replicated. Riding to ProtoVillage was an eye-opening experience and inspired all of us to make sure we ride back soon and help spread the message.
You can contact ProtoVillage using the details mentioned below
Phone: +91 9741746478 / +91 9901153973
Email: kalyanakkipeddi@gmail.com / shobi20@gmail.com
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