Amidst the concrete chaos in Bengaluru, a miracle is growing. When you enter Sumesh and Meethu Nayak's 1,500 square foot home, you are not entering a house; You enter a living and breathing jungle.
Over the past 11 years, the couple has transformed their humble urban space into a vibrant ecosystem that is home to more than 2,000 plants, 49 species of birds and over 30 species of butterflies and moths. It is a green paradise humming with life, not noise.
Every corner is bursting with edible abundance, including avocados, dragon fruit, mangoes, guavas, mulberries, starfruit and more. A towering chikoo tree (sapodilla), planted more than a decade ago, attracts birds such as bulbuls and parrots, as well as squirrels during the day and bats at night.
Their secret is that they use no chemicals or artificial fertilizers, just compost from their kitchen and dry leaves. “It's like black gold. And it even smells wonderful,” they say.
This mini jungle is beautiful and functional. Your home is completely solar powered and the excess energy is fed back into the grid. Due to the dense greenery, the temperature inside is five to six degrees cooler than outside in summer.
What started as a weekend hobby has turned into a way of life. The Nayaks generously share their harvest with friends, neighbors and of course the birds, who feast lavishly. Over 80,000 people now follow her journey online and have inspired many to reimagine what life in the city can be.
As Sumesh says, “I planted and cared for these trees 11 years ago, and now they are taking care of us.”