The Ministry of Tourism has launched the Best Tourism Villages Competition to recognise villages that excel as tourism destinations while preserving cultural and natural heritage, promoting community-based values and lifestyles, and demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability across economic, social, and environmental spheres. The competition invited applications in various categories, including Heritage, Agri Tourism, Craft, Responsible Tourism, Vibrant Villages, Adventure Tourism, Community-Based Tourism, and Wellness.
The application process was conducted online through the portal https://www.rural.tourism.gov.in, with evaluations carried out at the District, State, and National levels.
In the inaugural edition of the competition held in 2023, 35 villages were recognised as Best Tourism Villages. The announcement was made by the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
The list of recognised villages is as follows:
- Gold Category: Dawar (Jammu & Kashmir), Kanthalloor (Kerala), Madla (Madhya Pradesh), Reiek (Mizoram), Sarmoli (Uttarakhand)
- Silver Category: Lepakshi (Andhra Pradesh), Shergaon (Arunachal Pradesh), Kurauana (Uttar Pradesh), Sarodhadadar (Chhattisgarh), Hemis (Ladakh), Kalpeni (Lakshadweep), Khijadia (Gujarat), Raghurajpur (Odisha), Menar (Rajasthan), Pembarthy (Telangana)
- Bronze Category: Talao (Haryana), Chhitkul (Himachal Pradesh), McCluskieganj (Jharkhand), Hampi (Karnataka), Khokhara (Madhya Pradesh), Patgaon (Maharashtra), Kongthong (Meghalaya), Diezephe (Nagaland), Thirunallar (Puducherry), Nawanpind Sardaran (Punjab), Naurangabad-Shree Mahaveerji (Rajasthan), Kitam (Sikkim), Vettaikaranpudur (Tamil Nadu), Ullada (Tamil Nadu), Chandlapur (Telangana), Vidyasagar (Tripura), Kiriteswari (West Bengal), Biswanath Ghat (Assam), Devka (Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu), Cotigao (Goa).
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These awards highlight the efforts of rural communities across India to promote sustainable tourism while preserving their unique cultural and natural resources.
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