Pochampally selected as UNWTO Best Tourism village from India

Hyderabad: Pochampally village from Telangana has been selected as one of the Best Tourism Villages by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). The prestigious award will be presented during the 24th session of the UNWTO General Assembly on December 2, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. In July early this year, Ramappa Temple from Mulugu district […]

Hyderabad: Pochampally village from Telangana has been selected as one of the Best Tourism Villages by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). The prestigious award will be presented during the 24th session of the UNWTO General Assembly on December 2, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. In July early this year, Ramappa Temple from Mulugu district bagged the UNESCO’s ‘World Heritage Site’ tag.

Last year, the Ministry of Tourism had recommended three villages, including Kongthong from Meghalaya, Ladhpura Khas, Madhya Pradesh and Pochampally in Telangana for the UNWTO Best Tourism Village entry from India.

The Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO pilot initiative aims to award villages, which are outstanding examples of rural destinations and showcase good practices in line with its specified nine evaluation areas. It also aims to support villages to enhance their rural tourism potential through training and access to opportunities for improvement.

Pochampally, which is 50 kms from Hyderabad, is a town in Yadadri district. It is popularly known as the ‘Silk city of India’ for the exquisite sarees that are woven through a unique style called Ikat.

This style, Pochampally Ikat, received a Geographical Indicator (GI Status) in 2004. Ikat involves the process of wrapping (or tying) and dyeing sections of bundled yarn to a predetermined colour pattern before they are woven. The dye penetrates into exposed sections while the wrapped section remains undyed. This pattern formed by the yarn in this process is woven into fabric.

Pochampally’s unique weaving styles and patterns received special focus from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of Vocal 4 Local as a part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, said Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy in a press note.

“On behalf of Pochampally and the people of Telangana, I am grateful that this award has been bestowed on Pochampally Village” said Kishan Reddy adding “I am grateful to the Ministry officials in presenting the case for Pochampally and other entries effectively”

Pochampally is also known as Bhoodan Pochampally to commemorate the Bhoodan Movement that was launched by Acharya Vinobha Bhave from the village on April 18th, 1951. Currently, a two-room Vinobha Bhave Mandir exists within the village, which was earlier the place where Vinobha Bhave used to stay during his visit to the village.

The Union Tourism Minister said, the Ministry of Tourism has drafted a Rural Tourism Policy, which will not only promote tourism within our villages but also revitalise local arts and crafts and promote rural economy. It will help redevelop and rebuild our villages and rural life and the residents of the villages will also get an opportunity to engage and interact with people from outside, he said.

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