Nirmal, Somasila villages in Telangana recognised as India’s best tourism villages for 2024

Nirmal village, known for its rich cultural heritage in crafts, particularly its famous "Nirmal paintings" and traditional wooden toys, was recognized in the "Crafts" category.

Hyderabad: Nirmal village in Nirmal district and Somasila village in Nagarkurnool district have been awarded titles of Best Tourism Villages for 2024 by the Ministry of Tourism. The announcement was made on Friday, marking World Tourism Day.

Nirmal village, known for its rich cultural heritage in crafts, particularly its famous “Nirmal paintings” and traditional wooden toys, was recognized in the “Crafts” category. Located about 220 kilometers from Hyderabad, Nirmal is a hub of artistic talent that dates back to the Mughal era.

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Meanwhile, Somasila village in Nagarkurnool district, around 120 kilometers from Hyderabad, has been honored in the “Spiritual – Wellness” category. Nestled along the banks of the Krishna River, Somasila is renowned for its spiritual ambiance and serene landscapes, making it a popular destination for wellness tourism. The village is home to the revered Somasila Temple.

To promote tourism to the Soul of India (India’s villages), the Best Tourism Villages Competition was introduced in 2023. The first edition of the Best Tourism Villages Competition in 2023 saw applications from 795 villages.

In the second edition of the Best Tourism Villages Competition, a total of 991 applications were received from 30 States and UTs, out of which 36 villages were recognized as winners across 8 categories of the Best Tourism Villages competition 2024.