Animal Petting, open spaces boost Punekar's mental wellness

On a quiet weekend getaway, you find yourself at a petting farm where the city’s constant hum fades almost immediately. Ducks tottering close, geese nibbling gently from your palms, and sheep leaning into the fence, completely at ease. A turtle sits peacefully in your hands, while budgies flutter down onto outstretched wrists. This slower, softer pace is what winter weekends look like for many Punekars seeking a break from the city, and looking to lift their mental wellness.A pause from screens, to learn empathyGaurav Kulkarni, an IT professional who visited an equestrian and petting farm in Talegaon near Pune with his partner, Shalmali, and child, shared how open spaces like a petting farm give a chance to reconnect with nature. “We’re all surrounded by technology 24x7. Not just work, but even my home is filled with tech, and it seems to have pushed us away from nature.” For Shalmali, experiences like this are also a way to instill empathy. “With animals, you feel alive, and that's what stands out for me,” said Shalmali. On the other hand, for Shubra, who works as an interior designer, it’s a true mental rejuvenation. “I had never felt so good and at peace as I did while spending some time with the animals. I’d recommend everyone in my circle to visit a petting farm at least once in a while to ensure that their minds get calmer and better. We think that we know a lot, but once you come here, you realise how little you know about the animals around us,” said Shubra. Like Gaurav, Radhika, and Shubra, nearly 1,000 to 1,200 people visit the petting farm every weekend. According to Radhika Srinivasan, the chief operations officer, “That’s the level of popularity a petting farm has today. The growth of IT-dominated areas like Hinjawadi, Baner, and Wakad, has really helped us reach more people. And the expressway brought in more visitors from Pune and Mumbai, both,” she said.How a petting farm worksA typical petting tour begins with a brief orientation, where guides explain how to behave around the animals, what feed to give each one, and basic petting techniques. This is followed by a guided group activity that lets visitors feed and interact with the farm animals. As the tour moves from one enclosure to another, guides share details about each animal or bird and allow visitors time to engage with them. Expect to meet them and get an oxytocin rush:Horses, rabbits, ducks, geese, emu, pigs, goats, sheep, guinea pigs, turtoises, parakeets, golden pheasants, and of course, dogs How much does it cost?A day of petting animals can cost you anywhere between Rs 900/session to 1300/per session for adults, and Rs 700/session to Rs 1,000/per session for children. The pricing varies further depending on weekends and holidays“This was a stud farm my grandfather had set up and was about to shut. I had come here in 1997 to close it down, only to realise we could revive it — and do even better”-Rohan More, MD, Japalouppe Equestrian Centre