From Bombay to Byndoor, she swapped skyscrapers for a low-impact eco-homestay

Five years ago, Priyanka Jena and her husband Tanveer Taj gave up city life and set out to make a living in a coastal village in Karnataka. For the past three years, they have been running a boutique eco-conscious homestay, Praana Experience, which they built from scratch on the relatively unexplored coastline of Byndoor in Karnataka.

Their story is an example of the increasing trend of reverse migration from cities to villages, of jaded urban dwellers seeking reconnection with nature and living an unhurried life.

Born in Vishakhapatnam and raised in Mumbai, travelling was a key part of Jena’s family culture as her father was a naval architect. “He used to work primarily in south Asian countries like South Korea, Japan and Malaysia. So, every summer my mom and I used to travel to a new country. I loved experiencing new cuisines and cultures,” she says.

Jena was in her mid-20s when she decided city life was not for her. A student of mass media, she had completed her Master’s from London when she met Tanveer in Mumbai – the couple came together over their common love for travel and animals.

“Tanveer and I spent our earliest dates scouting for land,” says the 39-year-old. “We wanted Karnataka as it is very rich in natural wealth and wildlife. The coastal side is still very underdeveloped, and very green and beautiful.”

After six years of search for an unspoilt stretch of land, they set out to design and construct a property using traditional techniques and local artisans. Sustainability has become a buzzword in hospitality, but the couple approached it with authenticity – from construction techniques to pet-friendly policies. The final product “embodies low-impact hospitality”.

“Every day is still an adventure with new challenges. But we love it,” says Jena, who earlier ran a travel company that curated immersive adventure holidays to offbeat parts of India. A certified diver and trained surfer, she has long championed exploring India’s lesser-known regions.

“We had to completely unlearn the urban way of life. Here in Byndoor we are self-sufficient; we know everything about plumbing, electricals, painting, bricks and sand. We learnt about sewage and waste management. We get all our water from our own wells. We recycle and compost. We have so much control over our life,” Jena shares.

Jena addresses the biggest misconceptions people have about ‘sustainable travel’: “True sustainability starts at home. You have to think about everything from garbage management, segregation, composting, recycling, avoiding electronics, and using natural items in everything. You should know the journey and lifecycle of everything you use. Only then can you call your setup truly sustainable.”

For example, she says, a property cannot have air conditioners and generators that pollute the environment and still call it “sustainable just because you compost.”

In a world obsessed with fast travel and instant gratification, Jena’s work has consistently championed slow, immersive journeys, and “taking time to savour life and all its elements.” As she says, “We have no need to rush into anything but at the same time we have a very proper routine. Slow living is not actually slow time but living with the natural timings of nature and light.”

Growing up an only child in a family where rescuing animals was commonplace – Jena herself rescued cats and birds as a child – it is no wonder that she later set up a foundation to care for stray dogs in their village. The Frodo Foundation is a moving tribute to Jena’s late dog and has already created tangible change for stray animals in the area.

“We have vaccinated over 300 dogs, community animals and house pets, and spayed over 50 dogs and cats so far,” she says. Working with a core team of animal lovers in the village, the foundation undertakes rescue work and offers medical assistance to animals in need. 

As a woman who has explored remote regions, led adventure trips, and now runs a business in a quiet coastal village, there have no doubt been unexpected challenges – and joys – of carving one’s own unconventional path. “I have always felt different from others, and I have a very clear vision of how I want my life to be. I have worked consciously to design it that way,” Jena says.

Besides her coastal homestay, Jena also co-runs a creative studio that helps amplify brands in the travel, nature and conservation space. “I feel when you make up your mind to do something unconventional, it is important to start acting on it with small steps. The path automatically becomes clearer as you walk on it and one thing leads to another. My biggest brag is that we go to bed in a house exactly how we imagined it to be and that we built it ourselves,” she smiles.

At the same time, Jena believes in the “one day at a time” life rule. “I don’t set unrealistic goals or timelines. And I listen to my body and mind deeply. If I feel am burning out, I take a break no matter what. If anything stresses me out, I don’t pursue it, or else I change my outlook towards it,” says the entrepreneur and adventure traveller who, like the protagonist in Robert Frost’s poem, took the path less travelled – literally.

“Believe in yourself,” she urges. “Then you can do or achieve anything.”