Three Indian villages have been nominated in the Best Tourism Village category for the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Award.
Madhya Pradesh’s Ladhpura Khas village that is situated near the town of Orchha, is one such village. The other two villages are Meghalaya’s Kongthong village, and Telangana’s Pochampally village.
Indian village tourism has taken off ever since the nation’s Rural Tourism Project began across states. The idea behind the project is to give shape to the concept of village tourism, which is not prevalent in the country.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh took to Twitter and wrote,
“A moment of pride for us all as Madhya Pradesh’s village Ladhpura Khas has been selected for entry to the ‘Best Tourism Village’. My best wishes to the whole team of MP Tourism and administration on this achievement. Keep up the good work”.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Meghalaya’s Kongthong village is located in the East Khasi Hills, and is known as Whistling Village. It is perhaps most popular for its tradition of Jingrwai Lawbei, wherein the mother gives a tune or a lullaby to a child upon birth. Such a tune, like Eeooow or Ooeeo, becomes the identity of the child for the years to come, and it must be a unique one.
The village of Pochampally in Telangana is situated a few hours away from Hyderabad, and is sometimes known as the Ikat Capital of India. The village is located in Nalgonda district, and is renowned for its ikat sarees. The village is full of aesthetically designed mud houses, and can be explored on foot. You can interact with the artists, and witness the art of designing sarees.
Speaking of the nomination,
Madhya Pradesh Tourism and Culture Department’s Principal Secretary, Sheo Shekhar Shukla said, “In the next five years, 100 villages will be developed from the point of view of rural tourism. Among these, suitable sites will be selected and developed around tourist places, including Orchha, Khajuraho, Mandu, Sanchi, Pachmarhi, Tamia, Panna National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, Sanjay Dubri National Park, Pench and Kanha National Park etc.”