Madhya Pradesh is working on a model of improving rural economy through grand display of multi-coloured rural life. Experiencing the vibrant and diverse colours of Madhya Pradesh\u2019s rural life has now become even more exciting. The number of tourists visiting home-stay is steadily increasing. Home-stay units are now visible in villages near natural destinations, along highways in tribal regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has formulated forward-looking policy to promote rural entrepreneurship and tap the immense potential of rural tourism. As a result, in last two years, employment opportunities have been created in rural areas, while domestic and international tourists are also getting a chance to experience village life of firsthand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At present, 346 homestays are being operated by villagers in 98 selected villages, while 642 more will soon be ready to host tourists. So far, about 34,000 domestic and foreign tourists have visited these homestay villages to experience rural life. With comfortable accommodation, traditional cuisine, local folk art, dance, music, handicrafts and handloom activities, homestay-operating families have collectively earned Rs. 6.76 crore, providing them with a dignified source of income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is the Homestay Scheme?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Rural Tourism Programme, operated by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board under the Tourism Department, is a multi-dimensional initiative. Its objective is to transform the rural economy, create employment opportunities within villages and preserve rural culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through this initiative, tourists are introduced to the rural cultural heritage of regions such as Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand, Nimar, Malwa, Mahakaushal and Chambal. The deeply rooted village culture, traditional housing patterns, local cuisine, folk dance and music, handicrafts and traditions offer visitors a delightful experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Villages near tourist destinations as well as those known for natural beauty and tribal cultural identity have been selected and connected with rural tourism. Homestays allow urban tourists to enjoy the calm and scenic rural environment at an affordable cost, creating memorable experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board is also working towards the integrated development and expansion of homestays and tourism villages. Rural residents are provided training in hospitality, cleanliness and skill development. Training programs also focus on the use of digital tools, IT, and social media for promotion, enabling homestays to receive bookings through online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The village Khari in Sehore district, near Bhopal, has established itself as a model tourism village. Around 209 national and international government and non-government representatives have studied the contribution of tourism villages to community-based rural economies there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Home Stay Owners Earn Well<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In Bacha village of Ghoda Dongri tehsil in Betul district, Shri Ganesh Uikey has been running Tapti Vihar Homestay for about one and a half year and has earned a net profit of Rs. 2.50 lakh. Encouraged by this success, eight homestay units have opened in the village. Both domestic and foreign tourists are now visiting. The opportunity to stay comfortably in a rural setting and enjoy traditional food attracts visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tourists especially enjoy rural dishes such as jowar and bajra rotis, tomato chutney, roasted brinjal (bharta), traditional vegetable dishes and kodo-kutki kheer. Activities like singing devotional songs, participating in folk dance groups, feeding cattle, milking cows, drawing water from wells and driving bullock carts are highly appealing and create lasting memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Shri Ganesh Uikey, more than 500 families have visited so far, including five guests from Dubai. Anil Dhurve, President of the Ideal Tourist Committee of Bacha village, said the village is located along the Nagpur Highway, making it easily accessible. Several villagers operate homestays, including Shivganga Homestay (Ramdas Uikey), Gulmohar Homestay (Ankit), Jayseva Homestay (Rajesh Kumre), Satpura Homestay (Sudhir Thakre) and Ashirwad Homestay (Meenakshi Dhurve). Perhaps no other village has as many homestays as Bacha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bacha is located 25 km from Betul bus stand and railway station and 165 km from Bhopal, making it convenient for visitors traveling along the Bhopal\u2013Nagpur highway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, near Umaranala on the Nagpur Road in Chhindwara district, about 25 km away, lies the historic Deogarh Fort of the Gond kings. Here, Kailash Sarke has been operating a homestay since 2023. Around 100 families, including tourists from France, have visited so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Explaining the difference between a hotel and a homestay, he says that while hotels may offer more facilities, homestays provide a unique environment\u2014traditional food, peaceful village surroundings, sunrise and sunset views, and the soothing sounds of birds. He thanked the Chief Minister for launching such a scheme, which, he said has created a source of income while allowing families to stay in their villages. Alongside running the homestay, they also focus on gardening, farming improvements and maintaining village cleanliness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recently, Tribal Affairs Minister Dr. Kunwar Vijay Shah visited the district and stayed at the homestay, appreciating its management and encouraging the operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Chimtipur village near Patalkot in Tamia in Chhindwara district, Rupalal Pandaram runs the Amla Homestay, while his brothers operate Doodhimata and Babamad Homestay units. Since 2024, more than 100 tourists, including visitors from Canada, have stayed there. Nearby attractions include the origin of the Dudhi River in Patalkot and rare medicinal herbs found in the region. He informs that homestay has generated a net income of about Rs. 3 lakh, and local tribal dance groups performing Gendi and Saitam dances also earn income. Tourists enjoy dishes like mahua kheer, mahua laddoo, kodo kheer, maize and local vegetables. Bookings are often made through MakeMyTrip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, in Navdatoli village of Kasrawad in Khargone district along the bank of the Narmada River, the Kirti Kevat Homestay offers a direct view of the sacred river. Its operator Chanda Bai Kevat says they receive 15\u201320 bookings every month. Around 150 tourists have visited so far, generating a net income of about Rs 2.5 lakh, even though the venture has only recently begun.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Madhya Pradesh is working on a model of improving rural economy through grand display of multi-coloured rural life. Experiencing the vibrant and diverse colours of Madhya Pradesh\u2019s rural life has now become even more exciting. The number of tourists visiting home-stay is steadily increasing. Home-stay units are now visible in villages near natural destinations, along …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":113342,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[142],"tags":[143],"post_format":[],"flags":[],"class_list":["post-113341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-state","tag-state"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=113341"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113341\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113343,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113341\/revisions\/113343"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/113342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=113341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=113341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=113341"},{"taxonomy":"post_format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fpost_format&post=113341"},{"taxonomy":"flags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fflags&post=113341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}