From Courtroom to Canopy: How a 65-YO Lawyer Built a Jungle Utopia in Goa

In the lush green forests of South Goa, there is a peaceful eco-village called Khaama Kethna. It is a place where people can live close to nature and experience a simple, sustainable way of life. This eco-village was created by Panta Ferrao, a 65-year-old former lawyer who left his job to follow his passion for protecting the environment.

A Lawyer’s Awakening

Panta Ferrao once worked as a lawyer, where he saw the negative effects of development projects on nature. He realized that people were destroying forests, polluting water, and harming the land in the name of progress. This troubled him deeply because he had grown up surrounded by nature, playing among trees and insects.

In 1996, he made a big decision—he left his legal career to work on something more meaningful. His first project was a nature resort called Bhakti Kutir in Palolem, Goa. The land was once full of coconut trees, but it had become barren over time. Ferrao and his ex-wife bought the land and focused on bringing it back to life. They planted native trees and used eco-friendly materials like bamboo, rice husk, and straw to build huts. Today, Bhakti Kutir is a popular destination for travelers who love nature and sustainable living.

The Birth of Khaama Kethna

After years of working on Bhakti Kutir, Ferrao wanted to create an even bigger eco-friendly space. In 2012, he started working on Khaama Kethna, a new eco-village located in the Agonda hills of South Goa. The land was in poor condition when he bought it, but he knew it could be restored.

To bring back its fertility, he made organic compost to improve the soil. He planted different kinds of trees, including fruit trees, medicinal plants, and native bushes. Over time, the dry and damaged land turned into a green paradise, filled with trees, fresh air, and wildlife.

A Stay Amidst Nature

Staying at Khaama Kethna is different from a regular hotel experience. Here, guests live in treehouses and cottages that are handmade using natural and recycled materials. Each structure is unique, built with bamboo mats, old wooden beams, and window frames taken from demolished houses. Every cottage has a private garden terrace where guests can relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.

The eco-village follows a simple rule: humans are guests in the jungle, not the other way around. This means respecting the plants, animals, and natural surroundings. Guests may find frogs in the bathrooms or leaves on their beds, but that is part of the experience. The goal is to live in harmony with nature, not against it.

The bathrooms are open to the sky, allowing guests to shower under the sun or stars. The water from the showers flows into the garden to help plants grow. Instead of regular toilets, Khaama Kethna uses compost toilets, which turn waste into natural fertilizer for the trees. Every small detail is designed to reduce waste and protect the environment.

As Ferrao explains, “Every cottage is designed to incorporate the trees and surrounding life forms of the jungle. Every space always allows nature to pass through and flow into it. This sends the message that we are not separate from nature but rather an integral part of it.”

A Self-Sustaining Dream

Khaama Kethna is always changing and growing. New areas and features are added whenever there are enough funds. There are carpentry workshops where people make furniture from recycled wood, craft centers where guests can learn new skills, and wellness retreats that offer yoga and meditation sessions. The eco-village also has an organic farm, where fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs are grown without chemicals.

Food is a big part of life at Khaama Kethna. Women from the local village cook traditional Goan meals using organic ingredients. The food is prepared on wood-fired stoves, giving it a unique and delicious flavor. Guests can watch their meals being cooked and enjoy them in a peaceful, natural setting.

Evenings at the eco-village are slow and relaxing. Guests can take a quiet walk around the property, join community activities, or simply sit in silence, listening to the sounds of nature.

A Place of Peace and Reflection

For Panta Ferrao, Khaama Kethna is more than just a business—it is his dream come true. He believes that people can live happily with less, without harming the earth. Every structure in the village is designed to allow nature to flow through, reminding people that humans are part of the natural world, not separate from it.

As Ferrao puts it, “The process of construction has always been guided by organic growth. It is a self-sustaining project meaning each year more is completed or changed as more financial input becomes available. So in a way, it is still and always will be evolving.”

At the northern tip of the eco-village, there is a special spot where Ferrao likes to spend his evenings. As the sun sets over Khaama Kethna, he sits in silence, looking at the land he has brought back to life. He knows that no city luxury can ever replace the simple joy of being surrounded by nature.

Khaama Kethna is a living example that sustainable living is possible. Through his eco-village, Ferrao hopes to inspire others to take small steps towards protecting the environment and living a more mindful, simple life.

Ready to swap city chaos for jungle bliss? See how Panta Ferrao turned his wild dream into reality, click the link below to watch the story unfold! 

Penta Ferrao's Life story

Image source: the better india