Earlier this year, in the month of June, Ankita and I decided to go for a quick walk to the neighbourhood village. Sarrahirri is a kilometre away from Pench Tree Lodge in Madhya Pradesh. The mornings were rather warm in Pench. So we decided that the earlier we left, the better it was.

With open fields on either sides, we walked on the tarmacked road as I felt the sun’s heat on me. There were occasional visual respites. Sometimes we saw the villagers head out to the fields with their animals and other times, women rushed through the lanes to complete morning home chores.

Evidently the two of us did not belong there. The locals were shy but outspoken. I interacted with the owner of the sole grocery store in the village. The Agarwals moved to Sarrahirri about 10 years ago from Seoni. Their shop is open all through the week and they sell every day necessities. The couple is now about 50-60 years old and have two children— a daughter and a son. Neither children live with them. They do have a pet parakeet named Mithu. While they didn’t want their photographs to be taken, they welcomed me into their shop and their house, and asked me many questions. I loved how friendly and open they were.

The homes here had distinct architecture— low titled roofs, the base were made of mud and painted predominantly in shades of blue. Some houses had iron grills on their windows, some carved wooden shutters and some just a vacant square into the house. The wooden door to the Agarwal’s shop caught my eye. With flower motifs on the top panel, the door looked sturdy and old. They estimated the door to date back at least 100 years.

Read: Photo Story: Sukhtara Haat, Madhya Pradesh

Read: My First Stay in a Tree House

Where are your favourite village walks?

Note: This village walk was made possible by Pugdundee Safaris. 

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