Man Survives On Leaves For 10 Years In Karnataka Forest, Sports Six-Pack Body

Last Updated:February 11, 2026, 14:19 IST

He says he observed monkeys and learnt what leaves to eat and what not. He walks a great distance inside the forest everyday and does a couple of exercises that he already knew.

In a quiet corner of Belagavi district, Karnataka where rocky hills rise beyond fields and villages thin into scrub forest, a man has chosen a life few would imagine for themselves. He shunned the regular ‘civilized life’ and walked into forests a decade ago.

For 10 years, he has lived away from society, without cooked food, without routine comforts, and without the rhythms of conventional life. Meet Budan Khan Hosamani, aged 34, from Ugaragol village in Saundatti taluk of Belagavi district who is well known in the area as ‘Modern Day Tarzan’.

A Decade in the Hills

Nearly 10 years ago, Budan Khan walked away from home and settled in the Heggolla hill region on the outskirts of his village. Since then, he has lived largely in isolation, away from regular social contact and modern conveniences.

What sets him apart is not just his solitude, but his diet. Budan Khan survives entirely on raw leaves, plants and wild greens found in the forest.

He is said to consume nearly 80 different varieties of vegetation available in the hills. According to local accounts, he no longer eats rice, roti or any cooked food and reportedly says he cannot even look at regular meals anymore.

Reports suggest that Budan Khan began experimenting with eating leaves after observing monkeys in the forest. Over time, this practice became his only source of sustenance.

To support this lifestyle, he also practices yoga, which he believes helps him digest the raw vegetation and maintain balance in his body.

Why He Left

According to those familiar with his story, Budan Khan left home after facing pressure from his family to get married and lead a settled life. Instead of following that path, he chose solitude in the hills and adopted what he considers a natural way of living.

He says he observed monkeys and learnt what leaves to eat and what not. He walks a great distance inside the forest everyday and does a couple of exercises that he already knew to stay in good health.

Despite surviving solely on forest greens, Budan Khan reportedly maintains a well-built and fit physique. Observers have described him as having a six-pack body, a detail that has surprised many locals and drawn curiosity about his unusual diet and routine.

His parents and two brothers live in the nearby village. “We tried to convince him to come back home many times. The minute we speak about him getting married, he stops talking to us altogether. So we said, he can stay unmarried but come and live with us. He doesn’t want to come at all, he is happy in the wild. We don’t have much option when he is that stubborn, so we just left him be" says Khan’s mother.

In the hills of Belagavi, away from kitchens and crowded streets, his life continues quietly, rooted in leaves, routine and isolation.

Reported By: Chandrakanth Sugandhi, News18 Kannada, Belagavi

News buzz Man Survives On Leaves For 10 Years In Karnataka Forest, Sports Six-Pack Body