Our Story | Akshara Ananda

Our architectural philosophy

At Akshara Ananda, architecture rises from the land itself — handcrafted using locally sourced, sustainable materials like tandur stone, laterite bricks, and reclaimed wood. Walls breathe with mud plaster and rammed earth, boulders millions of years old shape the landscape, and heritage artifacts bring stories of the past. It’s timeless design, rooted in place, built to endure.

Driven by the blue zone philosophy

The Blue Zone philosophy isn’t just inspiration — it is the soul of Akshara Ananda.

It teaches us that true longevity grows in the quiet, mindful rhythms of life: the taste of sun-ripened mangoes, the gentle stretch of morning movement by the lake, the laughter shared over a farm-to-table meal, and the deep sense of belonging in purpose.

At Akshara Ananda, this wisdom is woven into every experience. It’s a place where vitality grows naturally, where each moment is an invitation to thrive, and every decision plants the seed of a lasting legacy.

Our preservation philosophy

Sustainability is the guiding philosophy at Akshara Ananda. From farming to engineering, every practice is designed in harmony with nature. Instead of felling trees, we transplant them under expert care - even our majestic entrance Banyan, revived in partnership with the Vata Foundation, stands as a living testament to this ethos.

Meet the Team

The founders

Ashwin Rao

Founder, Akshara Ananda

I’ve always believed land is more than just real estate — it holds culture, memory, and legacy. With decades of experience in the business and as Managing Partner at Akshara Orchards & Resorts, I’ve had the privilege of shaping spaces that last, and I’ve learned that true value comes when business, ecology, and community meet. With Akshara Ananda, I wanted to take that further — to create a sanctuary where people can invest with confidence, live with wellness, and belong to something meaningful for generations.

Kavitha Mantha

Founder, Akshara Ananda

My journey has always been about weaving wellness into everyday life. With Sage Farm Café, I explored how food can connect us to the land and to each other. With Akshara Ananda, that philosophy takes on a larger canvas. Here, it’s not just about what we eat, but how we live, how we grow, and how we pass on a culture of balance and sustainability. My vision is for Ananda to feel like more than a project — to feel like a living, breathing community where nature, design, and people come together with grace and honesty.

Consulting partners

Stapati has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Design Firms in South Asia by Architectural Digest from 2014-2022. Projects include Kumarakom Lake resort in Kerala & Enchanted Island Resort in Seychelles.

Tony Joseph

Project Architect

Founder, Stapati Architects

stapati.com

Salad Dressing has completed more than 300 projects across various climatic regions and typologies, including the Singapore Pavilion Expo 2020 in Dubai, Alila Dalit Bay in Malaysia and Rewilding the Sky in Italy.

Chang Huai-Yan

Landscape Architect

Founder, Salad Dressing

saladlandscape.com

Jesper Hougaard has designed and upgraded more than 100 spas, and served 2 term boards at the International Spa Association, USA as well as developed quality spa operations on behalf of the Quality Council of India.

Jesper Hougaard

Wellness Consultant

Founder, Diletto Lifestyle & Hospitality

dilettolifestyle.com

Food & farming partner

Akshara Ananda has joined hands with Sage, the longest-standing name in sustainable food and farming practices in Hyderabad. Their food philosophy of encouraging local and seasonal produce aims at creating unique food experiences and nurturing positive and continuous lifestyle choices.

With Sage as our farming partner, the plot owners will learn how their food is grown and gain a perspective on how their food choices impact them and the environment. It’s an opportunity to create a biodiverse food forest; a zero-waste ecosystem that thrives on innovation, sustainability and green empowerment.

Permaculture partner

Aranya Agricultural Alternatives is an an environmental and developmental organization founded in 1999 by Narsanna Koppula & team from Zaheerabad, Telangana.

Since its inception, it has primarily focused on sustainable agriculture and permaculture, natural resource management, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, capacity building, and women. empowerment. Over the past 25 years, it has impacted 27,54,175 households across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh through a wide range of transformative projects.

Sustainable habitat partner

Hunnarshala Foundation, based in Bhuj, Kutch, is a non-profit organization established after the 2001 earthquake to support community-led reconstruction. It works to revive and modernize traditional building practices, using local materials like earth, stone, and bamboo to create sustainable and disaster-resilient structures.

The foundation empowers artisans through training and entrepreneurship, while promoting participatory design that involves communities in planning and building their own homes. Beyond housing, it also engages in policy advocacy and research, shaping models for eco-friendly, resilient development across India.

Discover Ananda's organic farm estate plots

Add an heirloom to your family - one that continues to offer its bounty for generations to come.

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At Akshara Ananda, we g.r.o.w

We build estates where soul, soil and sociality unite - nurturing lifelong wellness and a legacy that grows sustainably for generations.