Rs 12,000 rent, 500 plants, and a 60-million-year-old fossil: Bengaluru tenant turns 1BHK into urban jungle

The house in Bengaluru was rented for Rs 12,000.

In a city known for skyrocketing rents and concrete high-rises, one Bengaluru resident has turned his modest Rs 12,000-a-month rental into a verdant sanctuary. Situated on the fourth floor of a building in Kasturi Nagar, the 1BHK penthouse has been transformed into a stunning “urban jungle” featuring more than 500 plants, handmade aquariums, terrariums, and even a 60-million-year-old fossil.

The home was recently featured on the popular Instagram account @whatsuptenant_rentomojo, which showcases unique rental spaces across Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai. In the now-viral video, the tenant offers viewers a full tour of his rental flat, which has been decorated with greenery and personal touches.

“I’ve tried to keep it as natural as possible inside as well,” he explained in the video, noting that he personally painted the door and some of the interior walls. Creepers trail along balcony railings, while lemongrass and hibiscus flourish under the sunlight. Every corner of the home radiates serenity, starkly contrasting the hustle of the city below.

A handmade aquarium and a terrarium sit among the greenery, and the centrepiece — a 60-million-year-old fossil — adds a prehistoric touch to the otherwise lush space.

The transformation has won hearts online. “1BHK house like this? You won’t find it in any other metro city in India,” said one Instagram user. Another praised the tenant’s ingenuity: “Wow! What a creative guy. Made the best of what he got.” A third comment read, “This was an apartment. He made it a home.”

As per its Instagram bio, WhatsUpTenant Rentomojo focuses on highlighting “unique house stories, society tours, and more” from across Indian cities. The page encourages users to share their own rental stories through direct messages.

Though the house was rented for Rs 12,000, the tenant’s effort and creativity have turned it into a priceless retreat.