Bhilar Village Awaits You… The Village of Books

Nestled amidst the breathtaking natural beauty of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani, renowned hill stations known for their strawberries, lies the picturesque village of Bhilar—now famously known as the Village of Books. This unique initiative, which has added a golden touch to Marathi literature, has gained nationwide recognition. It warmly welcomes every literary enthusiast with open arms.

Tourists visit regularly, but the village has also hosted numerous school excursions, captivating over a million students with its literary charm. The sweet taste of strawberries combined with the irresistible attraction of photographing books in every house has only enhanced Bhilar’s appeal. As India’s first Book Village, Bhilar is now drawing attention beyond Maharashtra.

As the 98th All India Marathi Literary Conference is set to take place in Delhi, memories of visits to this remarkable village are being rekindled. On May 4, 2017, the Marathi Language Department of the Maharashtra Government transformed Bhilar into an innovative Book Village. Today, 35 homes house different genres of books, aiming to promote reading culture and encourage a reading movement. To help visitors appreciate the richness of the Marathi language, these houses feature various literary categories, including classic and contemporary Marathi writings, saint literature, fiction, poetry, biographies, children’s books, history, women’s literature, sports, and more. Each house is decorated with murals that reflect the type of books available inside—houses with nature paintings hold books on travel and nature writing, homes adorned with historical murals contain books on history, while houses featuring images of saints store spiritual literature. These visual cues help visitors easily locate books of their interest.

A Unique Initiative with Local Participation

Rather than setting up a conventional public library, this initiative has actively involved the local community. The 35 homes that house books allow visitors to read based on their preferences. A vast collection of Marathi books is available, and the collection continues to grow.

Some of the notable locations and their book categories include:

• Hillarange High School – Children’s Literature
• Nitin Pralhad (Balasaheb) Bhilare – Novels
• ‘Anmol’s Inn’ Rahul Bhilare – Maharashtra, Marathi Language & Culture
• ‘Shivsagar’ Subhash Bhilare – Science
• Shri Hanuman Temple – Magazines & Literary Exhibits
• ‘Sai Valley Palace’ Vijay Bhilare – History
• Ganpat Bhilare – Diwali Magazines
• ‘Krishi Kanchan’ Shashikant Bhilare – Biographies & Autobiographies
• ‘Mangaltara’ Prashant Bhilare – History of the Shivaji Era & Forts
• Abhijit Dattatraya Bhilare – Social Reform Movements
• Pravin Bhilare – Short Stories
• Anil Bhilare – Women’s Literature
• Narayan Wadkar – Folk Literature
• District Council Primary School – Children’s Literature
• Suhas Kale – Essays & Intellectual Works
• Shri Ram Temple – Literary Exhibits and Language Games
• Santosh Sawant – Humor & Light Reading
• Akash Bhilare – Award-winning Books
• Ganpat Parthe – Arts & Fine Arts
• Mayur Resort, Ajay More – Nature, Travel, and Environment
• Shri Jananimata Temple – Saint Literature
• Girija Resort – Poetry

What Makes Bhilar’s Book Village Special?

• A treasure of 40,000 books housed in 35 homes
• Books are categorized by genre, with corresponding murals on walls
• Storytelling and poetry reading events
• Opportunities to meet renowned authors and publishers
• Audiobooks for visually impaired visitors
• Book launch events in the presence of tourists

This government initiative has been widely appreciated, allowing visitors to explore rare books and immerse themselves in a literary atmosphere—a significant step in preserving reading culture in an era dominated by mobile phones and television.

Tourists visiting Bhilar are deeply impressed, describing the experience as unlike anything they have encountered before. The initiative is praised as innovative and commendable.

The village also showcases an extensive collection of books on Shivaji Maharaj, historical forts, social reform movements, literature on social change, fiction, poetry, and more. Bhilar is a true treasure trove of knowledge, attracting book lovers, students pursuing Ph.Ds., and literature enthusiasts.

With its dual identity as the land of strawberries and the Village of Books, Bhilar is a testament to the power of literature, enriching lives with knowledge and cultural wisdom. This pioneering initiative, driven by community participation, stands as an inspiring model for literary promotion.