On 27 September 2024, India’s Ministry of Tourism announced the winners of the Best Tourism Villages Competition to celebrate World Tourism Day.

The competition promotes village tourism by recognising those that preserve cultural and natural heritage while focusing on sustainability and community values. This year, 991 villages from 30 States and UTs participated, and 36 villages were recognised across eight categories.

Here are 10 villages from the winners’ list that you can add to your itinerary for the upcoming holiday season:

1. Aru, Jammu & Kashmir — Adventure Tourism Aru Valley, a base camp for treks like Lidderwat and Tarsar Marsar, offers adventure activities like paragliding and ziplining. Plans for a drag lift will further promote skiing, making it an ideal adventure tourism destination.

2. Dhudmaras, Chhattisgarh — Adventure Tourism Dhudmaras excels in adventure tourism, offering trekking, zip-lining, and river rafting. It showcases rural India’s untapped potential for niche tourism, providing an authentic, natural setting for outdoor activities, far from commercialised tourism hotspots.

3. Kumarakom, Kerala — Agri Tourism Kumarakom, known for its sustainable agriculture and eco-tourism, blends traditional farming with bird-watching, backwater cruises, and cultural preservation. Its focus on community participation ensures tourism benefits locals while promoting eco-friendly practices.

4. Devmali, Rajasthan — Community-Based Tourism Devmali, with its mud-and-thatch homes honouring Lord Devanarayan, preserves its heritage with a vegetarian, alcohol-free lifestyle. The village’s culture of leaving homes unlocked and a theft-free community exemplifies its success in sustainable, community-based tourism.

5. Maniabandha, Odisha — Craft Maniabandha is renowned for eco-friendly silk sarees woven from naturally shed silkworm cocoons. With 688 weavers and 624 looms, the village excels in sustainable craftsmanship, producing internationally recognised textiles using traditional vegetable  dyes and unique  designs.

6. Mawphlang, Meghalaya — Heritage Mawphlang’s sacred groves, untouched for over 1,000 years, reflect Khasi traditions and conservation. You can explore this biodiverse forest, home to rare medicinal plants, and experience Khasi culture through the heritage village showcasing traditional architecture and customs.

7. Sabarvani, Madhya Pradesh — Responsible Tourism Sabarvani, a Gond tribal village near Satpura National Park, offers homestays, village walks, bird-watching, and traditional dances like Sela and Fadravi. The village excels in responsible tourism, emphasising cultural immersion and sustainability.

8. Kadalundi, Kerala — Responsible Tourism Kudalundi’s STREET project spreads tourism with village life experiences like backwater boating and local cuisine. The community-led reforestation initiative, ‘One Tourist One Tree,’ highlights sustainable practices that benefit both tourism and local residents.

9. Somasila, Telangana — Spiritual & Wellness Somasila, nestled along the Krishna River, offers a serene retreat for spiritual wellness. Recognised for its peaceful environment, this offbeat village provides travellers with tranquillity and spiritual solace in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district.

10. Harsil, Uttarakhand — Vibrant Village Harsil, with treks like Lamatop and Kyarakote, boasts stunning landscapes and peaceful charm. The village promotes tourism through local traditions and organised treks, offering visitors a refreshing, tranquil escape from city life.