rural tourism
Rural escapes that celebrate the romance of Indian villages
From quaint temples and ancient trees to art villages and traditional huts, there is much to be enjoyed in the remote, picturesque Indian villages. So pack your bags and hop on for a ride!
Celebrate a spectacular September at these rural festivals
A line-up of ceremonial celebrations across the hinterland gives Indians something to look forward to in the last month of the monsoon season, as September comes alive to showcase the rural culture in the country.
Phuktal Gompa – Feeling on top of the world at this Ladakh monastery
Phuktal Gompa is a centuries-old monastery in the Zanskar region of Ladakh. Renowned Buddhist scholars and teachers resided in a cave, around which the monastery has been built. The place of retreat, learning and meditation for Buddhist monks is a major attraction for tourists today.
Mount Wuya Kachui – Manipur’s mystical hillock of flowers
The mist-covered Wuya Kachui, which translates to Mountain of Sleep Paralysis thanks to a local legend, is popular for its wuyawon or pink orchid ginger flowers that clothe the hillsides in pink in July every year, attracting tourists.
Experience a slice of traditional living at this MP ‘ashram’
Reverse-migrating from Gurugram to their roots, this couple from Madhya Pradesh set up Jeevika Ashram near Jabalpur to embrace a traditional lifestyle, promote local crafts and give visitors an authentic cultural experience at their property.
Why this couple said konnichiwa to a Himachal village
Michael and Devanshe, who run the Himalayan Orchard homestay, quit a cosmopolitan life in Japan to live in her ancestral village in Himachal Pradesh. They tell us about the challenges and opportunities the move unfurled for them.
Stay at these lovely homestays to explore Sanchi, Bhimbetka in MP
An hour out of Bhopal, the village of Khari offers guests comfortable homestays run by villagers and nearby attractions such as the Kesla Dam, Bhimbetka caves and the Sanchi Stupa. Village Square does a recce.
Explore the village ways with this Uttarakhand venture
Village Ways, a social enterprise, takes tourists on walking tours of five villages within Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand. This is a win-win not just for the visitors but also the hosts, who are all local residents.
Add this tourism village in Kerala to your itinerary
The recent recognition of Kanthalloor in Kerala’s Idukki district as one of India’s top five tourism villages exemplifies its commitment to ecological sustainability, agricultural prosperity, and responsible tourism.
A day at Pushkar camel fair
A day spent at Pushkar camel festival unfolds a tornado of sights, sounds and feelings. We made a touch-and-go visit and returned with a mind full of memories and a memory card full of photos.
We just discovered a hidden gem in Darjeeling
Mist and memories intertwine in the village of Takdah, 28 km from Darjeeling, and as the fog lifts, it reveals not just a destination but a timeless escape into nature’s embrace.
5 unique homestays across rural India
Pack your bags and leave the city behind! We're about to unveil 5 hidden gems of rural India, where your next adventure begins with these extraordinary homestays.
Rural homestays for solo, offbeat travellers
Rural homestays near Orchha provide offbeat tourists and solo women travellers with a serene getaway while boosting the rural economy.
Offbeat rural destinations in India
At Village Square we love delving into the more unknown and vibrant regions of rural India, so for World Tourism Day we offer up some of our favourite stories and places to add to your “must see” list.