Raipur, 16 November 2024/ Dhudmaras, a small village in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, has created its own unique identity in the country and the world. Dhudmaras village, located in Kanger Valley National Park in Bastar district, has been selected by the United Nations World Tourism Organization for the Best Tourism Village Upgradation Programme. Dhudmaras of Chhattisgarh state of India has also made its place among the 20 villages selected from 60 countries for the United Nations Tourism Village Upgradation Programme.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai has congratulated the team of Tourism Department as well as the officers and employees of Bastar District Administration and Kanger Valley National Park for this achievement. Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the main credit for the success of Dhudmaras goes to the local residents, who have transformed it into an attractive tourist destination by preserving their traditional knowledge and resources. Dhudmaras is famous for natural beauty, cultural diversity and traditions. This village of Bastar, rich in amazing tribal lifestyle, traditional cuisine, greenery and biodiversity, is not only an attractive but also an exciting place for tourists.
Dhudmaras Village is one of the 20 villages across the world that have been selected to participate in the Best Tourism Village Upgrade Programme. Dhudmaras has been selected for its unique cultural heritage, natural beauty and potential for sustainable tourism development. Joining the upgrading program will give the village access to resources that will help enhance its tourism infrastructure, promote cultural assets and improve the quality of life of villagers. Establishing the identity of this village as a tourist village at the global level also means that after a long time, the number of international tourists in Bastar has increased. It is noteworthy that Chitrakot village of Dhudmaras and Bastar had received the award of the best tourist village by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India on the occasion of World Tourism Day on 27th September this year.
प्रकृति की गोद में बसा धुड़मारास गांव घने जंगलों से घिरा हुआ है। गांव के बीच से बहती कांगेर नदी इसे मनमोहक बना देती है। बस्तर के लोग मेहमाननवाजी के लिए जाने जाते हैं। यही वजह है कि स्थानीय लोग अपने घरों को पर्यटकों के लिए उपलब्ध करवा रहे हैं, ठहरने की सुविधा उपलब्ध करवाने से उन्हें रोजगार मिल रहा है। गांव के युवा पर्यटकों को आसपास के क्षेत्रों की सैर कराते हैं। स्थानीय खानपान के अंतर्गत पर्यटकों को बस्तर के पारम्परिक व्यंजन परोसे जाते हैं।The state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai is taking initiatives to promote eco-friendly tourism in Bastar by providing accessibility to home-stays including developing new trekking trails and camping sites. It is also encouraging local craftsmen and artists, so that the villagers living in the area can get employment at the local level and increase their income. The state government is also focusing on the development of roads and transport facilities in the area to attract tourists. In order to give global recognition to the tourist places of Bastar, extensive publicity is being done to attract international tourists including tourists from the country. Efforts are being made to take local handicrafts and art to the global market.
छत्तीसगढ़ सरकार के वन एवं पर्यटन विभाग ने धुड़मारास को ईको-टूरिज्म डेस्टिनेशन के रूप में विकसित करने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाई है। अब जिले के नागलसर और नेतानार में भी स्थानीय युवाओं की ईको पर्यटन विकास समिति द्वारा गांव में बहने वाली शबरी एवं कांगेर नदी में कयाकिंग एवं बम्बू राफ्टिंग की सुविधा पर्यटकों को मुहैया कराई जा रही है। साथ ही स्थानीय व्यंजन से पर्यटकों को बस्तर के पारम्परिक खान-पान का स्वाद मिल रहा है।The Eco Tourism Development Committee of the youth of the village provides the facilities of kayaking and bamboo rafting in Kanger River to the tourists, due to which this committee is earning good income. This tourism committee is now developing basic facilities like waiting room and toilets for tourists in the village with its income.
बेस्ट टूरिज्म विलेज धुड़मारास की कहानी यह साबित करती है कि जब सामुदायिक भागीदारी और शासन का सहयोग मिलता है, तो ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में भी आर्थिक और सांस्कृतिक विकास संभव है। यह गांव अब बस्तर के अन्य गांवों के लिए प्रेरणा बन गया है। यही वजह है कि कांगेर घाटी नेशनल पार्क के नागलसर और नेतानार में भी ईको-टूरिज्म को बढ़ावा मिल रहा है।