OUR CAMPUS
Campus Creativity Lab
About our Campus
Located at the intersection of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, the 172-acre Creativity Campus at Kuppam is Agastya’s base for educational initiatives. It is the seat of innovation, where many of Agastya’s pathbreaking initiatives are conceptualized and tested before being rolled out in the field.
The Campus houses exclusive spaces dedicated to studying subjects ranging from biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics to astronomy, ecology, art, and media. Thousands of students and teachers experience hands-on learning each year and draw inspiration from the impressive display of exhibits, models, and experiments.
Ecology Initiatives
When the land was first acquired, the Campus was arid, fit for few plants and animals. Much of the existing plant cover had been stripped away, leaving a wasteland that endured years of use and abuse.
With expert guidance from renowned environmentalist, Dr. Yellapa Reddy, the Agastya team began the painstaking work of environmental restoration. Water conservation was a top priority, so measures were taken to improve drainage and maximize the water available to plant life on the Campus. Native species from the surrounding area were transplanted to the Campus, and began to flourish. The greening of the land was followed by a vibrant resurgence of animal life - a sign of nature on the rebound.
The Campus is now teeming with flora and fauna, even prompting sightings of rare species of birds and insects. For visiting students, science starts here, whether with an eco-walk led by an Agastya naturalist, or a casual stroll on one’s own.
The protection, afforestation and rejuvenation program and the resulting rich vegetation led to a surge in several important butterfly, bird, mammal, amphibian and reptile species, transforming the campus into a bio-diversity rich region.
The Campus shelters about 600 species of plants, a majority of them being native species. There are 152 species of birds, of which 20% are migratory and arrive every winter. 103 species of butterflies including rare and unique species are present. 16 species of amphibians and 21 species of reptiles including Geckoella Kollegalensis, Barred Wolf Snake, Golden Gecko, among others have been reported for the first time in the Eastern Ghats owing to the richness of their habitat on campus. 55 species of rare spiders were spotted.
Flora and Fauna
Architecture at Campus
Designed by Sharukh Mistry Associates, proponents of holistic architecture, the campus architecture includes unique and innovative structures that stand out and inspire creativity. For example, the Performing Arts Center takes the shape of a dung beetle, the natural inhabitants of the land.
There is an emphasis on sustainability, incorporating eco-friendly materials and construction methods. Some buildings in the Campus have been recipients of prestigious architecture awards, including the JK Architect of the Year Award.
Camps@Campus
Camps are organised for students from schools and colleges all over India, giving them an opportunity to experience the Agastya way of learning.
The campus provides a creative environment for children conducive to developing and increasing their appreciation and understanding for community, science and the natural environment. The camps contain fun-filled activities that spark curiosity, ecology tours, hands-on art and model-making and exposure to folk music, dance and theatre.
A visit to Agastya can provide new experiences that bolster self-confidence and build understanding between India’s urban and rural communities by first bringing the children together, thereby dispelling their prejudices, presumptions, and misconceptions of one another.
Visit our Campus
