On the occasion of World Tourism Day on 27 September 2024, the Union Ministry of Tourism has announced the winners of the 2024 Best Tourism Villages Competition.
The representatives of the winning villages and their state tourism officials were conferred awards at a function in New Delhi on September 27, 2024.
The Ministry introduced the Best Tourism Villages Competition in 2023 to promote tourism in India's soul (village).
About the Best Tourism Villages Competition
The Best Tourism Villages Competition focuses on identifying and recognising villages that have preserved and promoted cultural and natural assets through community-based values and a commitment to sustainability in all aspects.
In the 2024 Best Tourism Villages Competition, the Ministry of Tourism received 991 applications from 30 States and the Union territories. Among the 991 nominated villages,36 villages were announced as winners across eight categories.
The eight categories were Adventure Tourism, Agri Tourism, Community Based Tourism, Craft, Heritage, Responsible Tourism, Spiritual And Wellness and Village Village.
Winners of the 2nd Best Tourism Villages Competition
Following is the list of the villages and the states/Union Territories who won the awards in the eight categories
Adventure Tourism Category
- Dhudmaras village – Chhattisgarh
- Aru village-Jammu & Kashmir
- Kuthlur village - Karnataka
- Jakhol village- Uttarakhand
Agri-Tourism Category
- Kumarakom village- Kerala
- Karde village -Maharashtra
- Hansali village - Punjab
- Supi village- Uttarakhand
- Baranagar village - West Bengal
Community-Based Tourism Category
- Chitrakote village-Chhattisgarh
- Minicoy Island -Lakshadweep
- Sialsuk village-Mizoram
- Deomali village-Rajasthan
- Alpana Gram-Tripura
Craft Category
- Sualkuchi village-Assam
- Pranpur village- Madhya Pradesh
- Umden village -Meghalaya
- Maniabandha village -Odisha
- Nirmal village- Telangana
Heritage Category
- Hafeshwar village-Gujarat
- Andro village -Manipur
- Mawphlang village -Meghalaya
- Keeladi village - Tamil Nadu
- Pura Mahadev village -Uttar Pradesh
Responsible Tourism Category
- Dudhani village -Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
- Kadalundi village -Kerala
- Tar Village- Ladakh
- Sabarvani village -Madhya Pradesh
- Ladpura Khas village-Madhya Pradesh
Spiritual and Wellness Category
- Ahobilam village -Andhra Pradesh
- Bandora village - Goa
- Rikhiapeeth village -Jharkhand
- Melkalingam Patti village-Tamil Nadu
- Somasila village- Telangana
Vibrant Village Category
- Harsil village -Uttarakhand
- Gunji village -Uttarakhand