Sometimes It Changes Through A Wake-Up Call.
Natureville was never meant to be a business.
It was born from a deeply personal transformation, a shared vision between two women from very different worlds, and a series of moments that felt too perfectly aligned to be coincidence.
Moments that reminded us that when we listen closely, life often guides us exactly where we are meant to go.
Since its inception in 2022, Natureville has been built on a simple yet powerful belief:
That healing is possible.
That food can be joyful.
That nature has much to teach us.
And that the answers we seek are often far simpler than we’ve been led to believe.
Natureville was founded by Upasana Bijoor and Mahalakshmi Raghunath, brought together by a shared love for people, wellbeing, community and a deep respect for nature’s wisdom.
Although their professional journeys were very different, they were both searching for the same thing:
A more meaningful way to live.
A more meaningful way to serve.
And a way to create a space where others could experience the same transformation.
Long before Natureville and Cafe Graze existed, Upasana dreamed of becoming a chef.
She studied Hotel Management with the hope of building a career around food, creativity and hospitality. But when she entered the industry, the reality was very different. The intense pressure, demanding environment and culture of the profession left her feeling disconnected from the very thing she loved.
Eventually, she walked away.
At the time, it felt like failure.
Today, she sees it as life’s redirection.
Soon after, she began a new chapter as a flight attendant with an international airline, a career that would span more than 14 years. Flying across continents every month, she experienced cultures, cuisines and ways of living from around the world. She loved the freedom, the people and the opportunity to see life through a global lens.
Then, at the age of 28, a routine health check-up changed everything.
She was diagnosed with low-grade breast cancer.
A lumpectomy was performed to remove the cancerous lump, and while many people in her situation would focus solely on treatment, Upasana found herself asking a different question:
Why does sickness happen in the first place?
Why were chronic diseases becoming so common?
Why did some people heal while others continued to struggle?
What role did food, lifestyle and environment play in the story?
Determined to understand the root causes of disease, she began studying nutrition and health with an intensity that would eventually shape the rest of her life.
That search led her to a Whole Food Plant-Based lifestyle.
She embraced it immediately.
To her surprise, it wasn’t difficult.
It wasn’t restrictive.
And it certainly wasn’t boring.
In fact, the chef within her came alive again.
She discovered a completely new world of ingredients, flavours and techniques that allowed her to create food that was colourful, satisfying and deeply nourishing.
Within six months, four additional small tumours that had been identified were no longer detectable. Having already undergone surgery, she did not require chemotherapy or radiation, and the experience deepened her conviction that lifestyle and nutrition play a profound role in supporting health and wellbeing.
Her curiosity evolved into formal education.
She went on to study Plant-Based Nutrition, Integrative Nutrition through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), New York, and Functional Medicine Nutrition.
While continuing her career in aviation, she began sharing what she was learning with others. She conducted nutrition education programs for cabin crew and pilots at Qatar Airways, helping colleagues understand how food choices impact energy, performance and long-term health.
For years, she lived a double life.
Flying across the world while simultaneously studying, teaching, coaching and immersing herself in the science of nutrition and lifestyle medicine.
By the time she stepped away from aviation in 2021, one thing had become crystal clear.
She had found her life’s purpose.
To help people understand that food can be one of the most powerful tools for healing.
And that healing food can be absolutely delicious.
Over the years, Upasana has spent countless hours mastering Whole Food Plant-Based cooking techniques, understanding how to create flavour, texture, richness, mouthfeel and satisfaction without relying on animal products, extracted oils, gluten or refined sugars.
Today, every dish at Cafe Graze reflects that journey.
100% vegan.
Completely oil-free.
Refined Grain free and Gluten-free.
Naturally sweetened only with dates, figs and raisins.
Yet rich, comforting, indulgent and deeply satisfying.
Through Natureville’s retreats, cooking academies and educational programs, she now teaches not only the science behind why a Whole Food Plant-Based lifestyle can support healing, but also the practical culinary techniques that make it sustainable for life.
Because knowledge alone doesn’t change lives.
Transformation happens when healthy food becomes food you genuinely look forward to eating.
And that is the heart of everything she creates.
If Upasana’s journey began through healing, Mahalakshmi’s journey began through a lifelong connection with nature, people and experiences.
As a child, some of her happiest moments were spent outdoors—watching the sunrise, feeling the stillness of early mornings and finding peace in nature long before the rest of the world had woken up. Even today, she believes some of life’s greatest lessons can be found not in books, but in the mountains, forests and open skies.
Her love for adventure has taken many forms over the years.
From trekking and hiking to motorbiking and mountain climbing, she has always been drawn to experiences that push her beyond comfort and bring her closer to the natural world.
She often says,
“Every adventure reveals nature’s simple and beautiful gifts.”
Professionally, Mahalakshmi spent over 15 years in Bahrain’s hospitality industry, eventually serving in senior leadership roles for leading hotel groups, FMCG companies like Unilever and marketing for Budwiser, Middle East.
Hospitality taught her something that remains at the heart of Natureville today:
People may forget what was said.
They may forget what was served.
But they never forget how a place made them feel.
Years of creating guest experiences, building relationships and understanding what makes people feel welcomed, cared for and connected shaped the foundation of everything Natureville would later become.
Yet there was always another side to Mahalakshmi.
A creative side.
A free spirit.
An artist.
Music became one of her greatest forms of expression.
As DJ Mahaa, she discovered the power of sound to shift emotions, elevate energy and bring people together. Over time, her music evolved beyond entertainment into something more intentional.
Today, she creates ecstatic healing journeys that blend rhythm, movement, spiritual sounds and healing frequencies, inviting people to reconnect with themselves through music and presence.
When Mahalakshmi and Upasana came together, they realised they were both searching for the same thing.
A life rooted in purpose.
A deeper connection with nature.
A space where people could slow down, heal, connect and experience joy.
Natureville became the meeting point of those shared values.
While Upasana brought nutrition, healing and food education, Mahalakshmi brought hospitality, operations, community and the ability to transform a physical space into an experience that people never want to leave.
Today, she remains the pillar of strength behind Natureville and Cafe Graze, quietly orchestrating countless details behind the scenes while ensuring that every guest feels welcomed, cared for and at home.
For Mahalakshmi, Natureville is more than a wellness centre or a cafe.
It is a living reminder that healing doesn’t always happen through effort.
Sometimes it happens through a beautiful meal.
A meaningful conversation.
A walk among trees.
A moment of stillness.
A piece of music.
Or simply feeling connected to something greater than ourselves.
And perhaps that is what she has been creating all along.
Mahalakshmi
Co-Founder | Operations, People & Culture
As Upasana worked with more people on their health journeys, one challenge kept appearing.
People understood what they needed to do.
But they struggled to sustain it.
Because healthy food often felt restrictive, complicated or uninspiring.
Natureville needed a place where people could experience healthy living rather than simply learn about it.
And so Cafe Graze was born.
Cafe Graze is not just a restaurant.
It is the living expression of everything we believe.
A place where people can gather around a table and discover that food can be:
Delicious.
Comforting.
Beautiful.
Satisfying.
And deeply nourishing all at the same time.
Every dish served at Cafe Graze reflects our philosophy.
100% Vegan.
Whole Food Plant-Based.
Oil-Free.
Gluten-Free.
Naturally sweetened with dates, figs and raisins.
But more importantly, every dish is designed to prove that healthy food never has to feel like a sacrifice.
Cafe Graze exists so people can taste what healing feels like.
While Cafe Graze nourishes through food, Natureville’s educational and healing programs nourish through knowledge, movement, connection and transformation.
Through retreats, cooking academies, movement programs, wellness workshops and community experiences, we help individuals build practical skills that support long-term health.
Because information alone doesn’t create change.
Experience does.
Community does.
Consistency does.
Address : Villa 1024/A ,5th cross,Geethanjali layout ,HAL 3rd stage ,Bangalore 560075
Email : upasana@natureville.in
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457 Morningview Lane, NY
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+1 (234) 567 890
Mon – Fri: 09.00 – 16.00