Pochampally village in Telangana makes it to the list of the ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’ (United Nations World Tourism Organization). The prestigious UNWTO Best Tourism Village award will be presented on December 2 at the United Nations World Tourism Organization General Assembly. This 24th annual meeting of UNWTO will be held in Madrid, Spain between November 30 and December 3.
‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’ is an initiative aimed at identifying the villages around the world that take ‘innovative and transformative approaches to tourism in rural areas in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).’ These UNWTO-recognized villages stand as ‘outstanding examples of a rural tourism destination’
The UNWTO member states can propose three villages for the award, and India has put forward the names of Kongthong in Meghalaya, Ladhpura Khas in Madhya Pradesh, and Pochampally in Telangana.
An official release from the office of G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Development of North Eastern Region of India, stated that Pochampally from India has been named as the Best Tourism Village by UNWTO.
Pochampally, also called Bhoodan Pochampally, is a small village in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana, located at a distance of around 55 km from Hyderabad International Airport. The artisan village, often referred to as the Silk City of India, is famous for its Ikat sarees – high-quality sarees beautifully hand-woven in Ikat style. The process is extremely complicated, but the villagers nevertheless are past masters at weaving these exquisite sarees that feature intricate geometric patterns. Pochampally Ikat was also bestowed with GI Status (Geographical Indicator) in 2004.
Congratulating the people of Pochampally, G. Kishan Reddy said, “Pochampally’s unique weaving styles and patterns received special focus from the Prime Minister’s mantra of Vocal 4 Local as a part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.”
Apart from its rich tradition of textiles, the village also boasts historical, natural, and religious sites as tourist attractions. Vinobha Mandir, 101 Dharwaja House, and Rural Tourism Complex are some of the most popular places to visit in Pochampally.
