These days it seems like everyone’s getting on the village bicycle, that poor Lady Gao Gao. With an increasing number of vacation designers planning quaint hamlet trips, stressed out city folk are getting lured into village home stays, signing up for everything from Warli painting classes and farming to dung-plastering activities. Folk it over!

Village, Belle!

The latest lure for the desi Simple Life comes from Culture Aangan, an organisation that offers home stays – in local cottages and bungalows cutely done-up with red brick walls, cane chairs and colourful cushions - in Maharashtra’s pretty Sindhudurg area. Now the Scouters haven’t been yet, but fun agendas that include butterfly sightings and herb trails, fresh fish auctions and picnicking in mango orchards, may change that soon. If you’re tempted too, go now during their ongoing mango harvest festival where you can go fruit picking and later, eat your loot.

Aimed at preserving the area’s heritage and promoting local art, Culture Aangan does its best to involve local villagers in your vacation. So take a class in tribal painting or attend cooking demonstrations for authentic Konkani food. We’re not really the crafty type, so you’ll catch us on a boat in the backwaters or at a yoga and massage session. Community collage!

Getting there: Culture Aangan, take the NH-17 highway to Sindhudurg District or take the Konkan Railway towards Goa and get off at Sindhudurg, Kankavali or Sawantwadi, call 9821483765 or visit www.cultureaanagan.com; Rs 4,500 for a couple per night including three activities.