Madhya Pradesh’s Ladhpura Khas village has been awarded the ‘Best Tourism Village’ award by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Ladhpura Khas village is located in Orchha Tehsil of Tikamgarh district in Madhya Pradesh. Along with Ladhpura, only two other villages in India had been nominated for the UNWTO award-Meghalaya’s Kongthong village, and Telangana’s Pochampally, in the year 2021.
The award was given on the basis of number of visitors received as well as the feedback these tourists had given to the place.
The village encompasses various village home stays where tourists who visit can indulge in solitude of village life, peaceful natural surroundings, Bundelkhandi cuisine and culture, their way of living, farming ancient history to name a few.
The village claims to have 80% literacy which seems to have worked in its advantage as the visitors coming in do not face any kind of issue, be it administrative, legal or tourism related.
“MP Tourism department, workers, officials and the villagers undying hard work is the reason due to which this recognition has been possible”, H S Dandotia- Orchha Tourism Department Manager said.
The state government had begun Rural Tourism project last year under which in the next 5 years, 100 villages will be developed.
Appropriate sites have been selected and being developed in Orchha, Khajuraho, Mandu, Sanchi, Pachmarhi, Tamia, Panna National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, Sanjay Dubri National Park, Pench and Kanha National Park, Mitawali, Padawali, etc.
Through this rural tourism, tourists can avail accommodation of local cultural specialties, types & processes of local food, dress, dialect, customs, traditions, local means of transport, jewellery, songs & dances, musical instruments, paintings etc.
