Our Vision
Our ultimate mission is to conserve our natural habitat for future generations as our diverse cultural heritage and this guides everything that we do. Our future is inextricably linked with the health of our environment”
Our Initiatives
Solar Energy
Turning to the sun for power: We are conscious of power scarcity and are constantly seeking ways to reduce our burden on the grid. Solar power accounts for up to 75% of our energy needs at Umaid Lake Palace, Kalakho (Dausa) and supports almost all operations, barring a few. We are committed to attaining 100% self-reliance in energy in the near future.
We have also come to realize that working with the earth is a two way project. We need to give back as much, perhaps more, than we take from her to keep things in balance and working well.
Turning to the sun for power: We are conscious of power scarcity and are constantly seeking ways to reduce our burden on the grid. Solar power accounts for up to 75% of our energy needs at Umaid Lake Palace, Kalakho (Dausa) and supports almost all operations, barring a few. We are committed to attaining 100% self-reliance in energy in the near future.
We have also come to realize that working with the earth is a two way project. We need to give back as much, perhaps more, than we take from her to keep things in balance and working well.
Organic Farming, In House Dairy & Poultry
At Umaid Lake Palace most of the food is prepared from vegetables grown locally in house using traditional methods with organic fertilizers and with minimum use of water. We have installed energy saving bulbs in the rooms & common areas. For bonfire we use Julie Flora which is planted on the fences throughout the property. In this way no trees need to be cut for fuel.
At Umaid Lake Palace most of the food is prepared from vegetables grown locally in house using traditional methods with organic fertilizers and with minimum use of water. We have installed energy saving bulbs in the rooms & common areas. For bonfire we use Julie Flora which is planted on the fences throughout the property. In this way no trees need to be cut for fuel.
A joint initiative by the host family at Umaid Lake Palace in collaboration with READ India, a non-for-profit Organization, is empowering women in Kalakho village to earn a livelihood by making traditional arts and crafts local to Rajasthan and the center also boasts of community library, computer training & resource center for the school children.
We plan to start a pre-primary school soon along with a few training programs on hospitality, animal husbandry & community initiatives in revitalizing the traditional systems of water management.
Community Volunteer Projects
Community Arts & Crafts Revival
Our aim is to maintain and support the local craft skills and develop high quality products with unique Rajasthani designs, thus create a sustainable source of income for the women in Kalakho village.
Our aim is to maintain and support the local craft skills and develop high quality products with unique Rajasthani designs, thus create a sustainable source of income for the women in Kalakho village.
Local Staff Hiring, Training & Community Engagement
100% of the staff at Umaid Lake Palace is from the local community who have been personally trained by the owners. The current owners are the second generation of Thakur Umaid Singhji who created Umaid Lake Palace and the staff here is the second generation of the people who helped create the retreat.
100% of the staff at Umaid Lake Palace is from the local community who have been personally trained by the owners. The current owners are the second generation of Thakur Umaid Singhji who created Umaid Lake Palace and the staff here is the second generation of the people who helped create the retreat.
Rainwater Harvesting
The Kalakho Dam was created to harvest rain water to re-charge the underground water system and then, by installing artesian wells, the same water could be drawn out for agriculture purpose which made the area fertile. Over the past two decades, due to the irregular usage of water from excessive agriculture and over growing crops which require a lot of water, the underground water system has failed, and people who have been settled here have had to look for different source of earnings.
Thakur Umaid Singhji started to educate the farmers to return to growing crops which required less or no irrigation, and which could be grown by properly harvesting the monsoon water. He has also educated the farmers to grow less 'thirsty' vegetables and even if the government prices are low for such vegetables, Umaid Lake Palace commits to buying them at a high price. This, in turn, contributes directly back to their water conservation programme.
Due to the water crises and the concept of water harvesting, we do not have bathtubs at Umaid Lake Palace. Equally, all the waste water is filtered and is used for irrigation & plantation via in the house Sewage Water Treatment.
Our other initiatives include mobilizing communities around the issue of water, and supporting them in reviving and revitalizing the traditional systems of water management through construction of ‘Johads’ (traditional method of conserving rain water), ‘Anicuts’, and ‘Bands’ (check dams) for rain water harvesting.
The Kalakho Dam was created to harvest rain water to re-charge the underground water system and then, by installing artesian wells, the same water could be drawn out for agriculture purpose which made the area fertile. Over the past two decades, due to the irregular usage of water from excessive agriculture and over growing crops which require a lot of water, the underground water system has failed, and people who have been settled here have had to look for different source of earnings.
Thakur Umaid Singhji started to educate the farmers to return to growing crops which required less or no irrigation, and which could be grown by properly harvesting the monsoon water. He has also educated the farmers to grow less 'thirsty' vegetables and even if the government prices are low for such vegetables, Umaid Lake Palace commits to buying them at a high price. This, in turn, contributes directly back to their water conservation programme.
Due to the water crises and the concept of water harvesting, we do not have bathtubs at Umaid Lake Palace. Equally, all the waste water is filtered and is used for irrigation & plantation via in the house Sewage Water Treatment.
Our other initiatives include mobilizing communities around the issue of water, and supporting them in reviving and revitalizing the traditional systems of water management through construction of ‘Johads’ (traditional method of conserving rain water), ‘Anicuts’, and ‘Bands’ (check dams) for rain water harvesting.
Opportunities for Guests to Participate
Gaining a true insight into what’s involved in conservation is one of the most rewarding experiences to be had and guests can join our mission to immerse themselves in hands-on conservation activities. These can include organic farming, animal husbandry, dairy handling, educational & sports camps at the village school, tree plantation drives & so on.
Gaining a true insight into what’s involved in conservation is one of the most rewarding experiences to be had and guests can join our mission to immerse themselves in hands-on conservation activities. These can include organic farming, animal husbandry, dairy handling, educational & sports camps at the village school, tree plantation drives & so on.
SUSTAINABILITY