Local Shopping
Dastakar : Dastakar is a nationwide organization, which helps local artisans make various
handicraft products and then sell them. In Ranthambhore, Dastakar works with many women
from the villages situated on the outskirts of the park. Most of the families from these
villages were displaced when their old villages were shifted outside the forest. Today
Dastakar helps provide income-support for these families. They have a workshop and a
showroom to display and sell these handicrafts. This showroom is situated 10kms from the
hotel. Dastkar's distinctive tiger motif & use of trees, birds and animal imagery
demonstrates the communities concern for the natural environment, in particular, the
endangered tiger.
Dhonk : Dhonk is an offset of Tiger Watch, a NGO working in Ranthambhore to
protect tigers and other wildlife through research and conservation with the participation
of local communities. Tiger Watch played a huge role in capturing many of the poachers
belonging to the Moghiya tribe, who used to be the traditional trackers for the Jaipur
royalty when they used to hunt in these forests. To help the Moghiya families earn
something, Tiger Watch started Dhonk where they taught Moghiya women how to make handicraft
products and now they help them sell the products as well. Dhonk is situated right next to
the hotel. Visit to see the artisans working to create the traditional and colourful
artwork.
Ranthambhore School of Arts : Mr. M. D. Parashar is a celebrated artist and one
of the founder members of Ranthambhore School of Arts. Mr. Parashar has been teaching locals
from Ranthambhore how to paint for over 25 years and some of them have gone to become famous
painters to other locations throughout the world. Today, Mr. Parashar works from his studio
in his home where he paints and teaches his students how to paint the various animals from
the forest, but mostly tigers. Mr. Parashar has also mastered painting with soot, obtained
from oil lamps, a technique that he has invented himself and he is ever ready to give our
guests a small demonstration of this award-winning technique. His paintings are also
displayed and are for sale in his studio.