Odiyar Farm and Homestay - Permaculture & Farm-Stay Landscape Design
Category: Farm Stay / Homestay / Landscape Design | Location: Pangot, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India | Year: 2026
Overview & Concept
Odiyar Farm & Homestay - Permaculture & Farm-Stay Landscape Design
Odiyar Stays and Farms is an existing homestay-and-farm-stay property with a homestay, cafe, polyhouse, plantation areas, and open farmland. The project focused on providing design consultation and guidance to help the owner develop the existing land into a more connected and experiential farm landscape.
Design Challenge
- The site already had several components, but they needed to work together as one landscape.
- The challenge was to establish clear zoning across the open farm land, connect key areas through pathways, improve access, and introduce different plantation zones while retaining the site's existing character.
- The design also needed to be practical enough for the owner's own team to execute.
Permaculture & Landscape Approach
- The approach focused on understanding the existing site before deciding where different activities and plantations should go.
- Rather than treating the farm as one large open area, the land was planned into distinct zones with different purposes and planting strategies.
- The proposed landscape included a Butterfly Garden, additional plantation zones, a polyhouse area, and connected pathways between the cafe, homestay, and farm areas.
- This created a landscape that could support both the farm-stay experience and the site's ecological character.
Landscape Zoning
A major part of the consultation was developing a clear zoning strategy for the open farm land.
- The land was planned around a Butterfly Garden and several additional plantation zones, each intended for a different type of planting.
- This approach creates variety across the property while making the larger farm easier to navigate, manage, and experience.
Pathways & Site Circulation
- A circular pathway was planned to connect the cafe, homestay, polyhouse, and Butterfly Garden.
- The pathway was considered only after establishing the broader site zoning, ensuring that circulation followed the functional relationships between different parts of the property.
- Entry access and connections to lower areas of the site were also considered, including a safer route to the water tank and soak pit with appropriate steps or ramp access and a handrail.
Polyhouse & Private Outdoor Spaces
- The existing polyhouse area near the homestay was considered for repositioning and repair.
- The landscape planning also included creating a small, private outdoor corner nearby, giving guests a more intimate space within the larger farm-stay environment.
Consultation-Led Design
- The project was structured as a design consultation rather than an execution contract.
- The process included site surveys, analysis of site and climate conditions, written recommendations, visual moodboards, and practical instructions for the owner's site team.
- The owner's own staff and contractors remained responsible for construction and implementation, allowing the design guidance to be translated directly into work on site.
Design Outcome
Odiyar Farm & Homestay demonstrates how an existing farm-stay can be developed through permaculture-inspired landscape planning, clear zoning, and connected pathways. By organizing the farmland into different plantation areas and integrating the homestay, cafe, polyhouse, and nature-focused spaces, the project creates a more cohesive landscape experience while supporting the property's agricultural and hospitality functions.
Project Specifications
| Aspect | Details |
|---|