Savji Dholakia, the founder of Hari Krishna Exports and widely regarded as India’s diamond king, recently opened the doors of his sprawling 50-acre family estate in Surat for a home tour, giving the world a rare glimpse of a residence that is as rooted in values as in grandeur.. “This is not a house. This is a temple,” he said as he welcomed the host at the entrance. The man who arrived in Surat at age 12 with just ₹12 in his pocket, enough for a half-ticket on his mother’s insistence, now lives in one of India’s most extraordinary family homes. And yet, for all its scale, the estate feels less like a trophy and more like a testament to what Dholakia has always believed, that people matter more than possessions.. The main living area is designed to feel as connected to the outdoors as possible. (Source: YouTube/Curly Tales). A dream home built for 64. Located on the outskirts of Surat, the estate is home to all 64 members of the Dholakia family, spanning multiple generations. What makes it remarkable is not just its size, but its philosophy. The property was conceived as a space where the entire family, including four brothers, their children, and their parents, could live, work, and grow together without ever feeling the need to divide.. What makes it remarkable is not just its size, but its philosophy. (Source: YouTube/Curly Tales). The estate features separate villas for each family unit, but the architecture deliberately draws everyone back together. Central meeting spaces, a large clubhouse-style living area, and communal dining ensure that togetherness is built into the home’s very structure.. “We built this empire all our lives,” Dholakia told Curly Tales. “Brothers first. 200 crores later.”. A living area open to nature. The main living area is designed to feel as connected to the outdoors as possible. Open on all four sides, it functions as a welcoming space for visitors and a gathering point for the family. The structure is intentionally airy, with greenery visible from every angle, blurring the line between the indoors and the sprawling natural landscape that surrounds it.. Dholakia has planted 1.5 lakh trees across the property. (Source: YouTube/Curly Tales). 1.5 lakh trees and an Ayurvedic garden. If there is one element that defines the estate above all others, it is the extraordinary greenery. Dholakia has planted 1.5 lakh trees across the property. “Dholakia means forest,” he explained. “Forest means jungle. That is why this house is inside the jungle.”. Story continues below this ad. The estate includes a dedicated Ayurvedic garden where plants used in the family’s daily meals, salads, and herbal preparations are grown on-site. Among the trees, a handful were imported from China in 11 containers, 15,000 trees, because they simply weren’t available in India. But, he was emphatic, everything else is Indian seed.. From 7 am to 11 am every morning, Dholakia can be found on the grounds, walking with l
