Evolve Back presents a series of expressive stories from our destinations. We hope that these stories encapsulating the lore of the land help foster a deeper understanding and connection between our guests and the places we call home.

Little Feet, Ancient Rhythms: Young Keepers of the Kodava Culture

Published on: 01/12/2025 |Contributors: Sourabha Rao & Santosh Saligram

In Kodagu, India’s fabled hill country of mist-laden forests, lush valleys, coffee plantations and timeless hospitality, heritage is not a thing of the past preserved behind museum glass. It is living, breathing, celebrated reality across generations. In this graceful land of the Kodavas, children grow into their identity through the rhythms of everyday life, the cadence of songs sung by elders and the vibrant pulse of temple festivals that anchor each village.

Lizards of Hampi: Watchers between Worlds

Published on: 27/11/2025 | Contributors: Preanka Roy & Alok Ranjan

Colossal boulders, rocky landscapes and monumental temples - welcome to the ancient capital of the Vijayanagara kingdom, Hampi. It was almost as grand as I had expected it to be. But something smaller and more enchanting caught my eye - the lizards! Not only the monitors and agamids but also the geckos; they darted up and across the grey granite walls of the shrines that they called home. Initially I had discarded their presence as “ordinary” but the more I explored the local communities the more it became evident that in Hampi even the tiniest beings carry stories older than time.

Water, Wildlife, and the Art of Waiting in the Kalahari

Published on: 19/11/2025 | Contributors: Sarah Kingdom

There’s a rhythm to life in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), a subtle pulse dictated by one element above all others: water. In this vast expanse of sand, sparse vegetation, and endless horizons, water is not just a resource, it’s a challenge. Visiting the CKGR, I’ve learned that the desert teaches patience in ways few other landscapes can. Here, life revolves around scarcity, and survival is an art of timing, observation, and respect.

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