Saguna Baug is an agro-tourism destination located in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, India. Operated by the Chendvankar family, it functions as a working farm that doubles as a visitor attraction, allowing guests to experience rural agricultural life, fish farming, and traditional Konkani hospitality. The property is widely cited as one of the early examples of organised agro-tourism in India.
| Name | Saguna Baug |
|---|---|
| Type | Agro-tourism resort and working farm |
| Location | Neral, Raigad district, Maharashtra |
| Region | Konkan |
| Country | India |
| Activities | Farm tours, fish farming demonstrations, rural recreation |
Saguna Baug is situated near Neral in Raigad district, an area at the foothills of the Western Ghats and the gateway to the hill station of Matheran. The farm was developed by the Chendvankar family, who have been associated with horticulture, fisheries, and rural development work in the Konkan belt. Over time, the property evolved from a private farm into a public-facing resort offering immersive experiences in agriculture and aquaculture.
The farm offers visitors a range of activities centred on rural and agricultural life, including:
Saguna Baug is frequently referenced in discussions of Indian agro-tourism as a pioneering enterprise that combined working agriculture with structured tourism. It is also associated with the development of the Saguna Rice Technique (SRT), a conservation-agriculture method for rice cultivation promoted by Chandrashekhar Bhadsavle of the Chendvankar family, which has been adopted by farmers in parts of Maharashtra and beyond.
The farm lies close to Neral railway station on the Mumbai suburban railway's Central line, making it accessible from Mumbai and Pune by both rail and road. Its proximity to Matheran and Karjat positions it within a popular weekend tourism circuit in western Maharashtra.