An Exemplar for Responsible Tourism
Redefining Traditional Hospitality
Crafting Transformative Experiences
It is a creative expression of our vision for responsible tourism and we aim to redefine traditional hospitality by offering top-notch personalized experiences that are both inspiring and transformative. Our boutique homestay uniquely blends luxury with nature, creating a setting where every element and touchpoint is thoughtfully designed to provide curated experiences that leave a lasting impression.
Crafted Sustainably, Rooted in Nature
The foundation of the transformation was laid on the principles of using locally sourced, reclaimed, and sustainable materials. An integral aspect of our sustainable approach was the creative reuse of local wood, recycling old furniture, use of bamboo, cane and trees that had outlived their original purposes. These materials, often overlooked, found a new life in the construction of our homestay.
About Panchabhuta Retreats & the Journey
The Retreat first served as the headquarters of Panchabhuta Conservation Foundation, a nature conservation foundation set up in 2012 by Mangal Shetty, who returned to his home state after selling his tech company in New York. In the past, Panchabhuta has hosted academics, scientists and students in eco-design conferences and permaculture courses, and conducted research projects documenting the biodiversity of the Aghanashini estuary.
All our research through the Panchabhuta Conservation Foundation (PCF), focused on the unique ecology of our location, inspired us to create a platform where people could experience this captivating environment firsthand. With the growing desire for people to reconnect with nature, our founder, Mr. Shetty decided to open our space to the public. During the pandemic, we chose to transform the foundation into an exemplar of responsible tourism. We began collaborating with sustainability experts, designers, architects, local artisans and were able to transform the foundation into a nature-immersive, experiential retreat in just a span of 6 months. While our conservation activities continue through PCF, the retreat now actively hosts like minded guests who share our deep commitment to conserving nature and practicing responsible tourism.
Panchabhuta Retreat is also a subsidiary of Biogen Wellness, a visionary venture builder dedicated to incubating and nurturing a diverse range of nature-conscious ventures. At Biogen Wellness, we focus on building ventures to inspire sustainable and responsible approaches to travel, living, and consumption. Our commitment is to deliver exceptional experiences across high-end hospitality, real estate, natural cosmetics, and other ventures deeply rooted in nature. Panchabhuta Retreat is the first of such ventures to be incubated under this vision.
With our first Exemplar coming to life, we are inspired to take the responsible tourism journey far and wide into many parts of Karnataka and India and use our decade of research experience to help build sustainable green business ventures. In Particular, we are committed to identifying and nurturing ecotourism hubs and contributing to the development of coastal tourism in Karnataka. Through these ventures, we are dedicated to ensuring that our collective future with nature remains secure and thriving.
Nature Inspired
Mangal Shetty
Mangal is a Nature Business Entrepreneur dedicated to creating “Businesses for Nature” that actively support, conserve, and regenerate natural environments, contributing to the broader goal of a nature- positive economy. In 2012, he founded the Panchabhuta Conservation Foundation in the Aghanashini Ecosystem in Karnataka, conducting various assessments on nature capital. Drawing from a decade of research, he launched India’s first Startup Studio for Nature-based businesses – Biogen Wellness in 2017. Biogen Wellness is leading the way in Responsible Tourism, Sustainable Construction, and Natural Cosmetics sectors, with plans to introduce future ventures in Responsible Tourism, Agri-food, Sustainable Construction, Sustainable Transportation, Marine Value Addition over the next decade, all aimed at contributing across the 4 capitals – Environment, Human, Social and Financial.
As an activist, Mangal has been instrumental in halting environmentally harmful projects and ensuring the biodiverse wetlands of Aghanashini receive the well-deserved Ramsar designation. Mangal is committed to empowering the local community by offering comprehensive support for new ventures—including resources, networks, investments, training, and strategic guidance—through a social impact venture builder. This initiative aims to inspire green entrepreneurship in the Aghanashini region and foster a network of smaller ventures that contribute to the growth of coastal and responsible tourism in Karnataka.
Mangal actively advises the Karnataka Tourism Department on policies, particularly for Coastal Tourism Development. Before dedicating his life to nature, he was a first-generation entrepreneur, co-founding several technology platforms for stock exchanges, banks, and brokerage houses. Recognized for his environmental efforts, Mangal was featured in Condé Nast Traveller’s list of “20 People Who Are Saving the Planet.” Read the article here.