On 20 October, when the whole nation was celebrating Navratri, a small but beautiful village in Gujarat, Dhordo was adjudged the ‘Best Tourism Village 2023’ by United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which left the country wondering what is so special about this nondescript village.
Dhordo is the last village on the border in Kachchh (Kutch) district, before the picturesque white desert begins. When the award was announced, it brought great joy for Gujarat, a state famous for its Navratri celebrations.
Dhordo is the only village from India to make it to the list of 54 from across the world. In the Gujarat government’s ‘Rann Utsav’ every year, this village always shines. Because of this, the government had organized the G20 tourism meeting here. The village has a circuit that joins it to the ancient city Dholavira. Called ‘Road to Heaven’, it passes through the Rann of Kachchh as well, and is a popular tourist destination.
Indian Masterminds interacted with 2012 batch IAS officer Amit Arora, the Collector and DM of Kachchh district, to get more details about this village.
DHORDO
About 86 kilometers away from Bhuj on the India-Pakistan border, Dhordo has a population of only around one thousand. It is the last village of Banni region situated in the northern part of Kachch district. This village is famous for organizing ‘Rann Utsav’ annually. It is a three-month long festival, which will begin on 10 November, this year.
Kachchh is also called the ‘White Desert’ due to the large production of salt. In this desert, during Rann Utsav, Dhordo village buzzes with tourists from within the country and abroad.
After the Rann Utsav started here, not only it became necessary to build proper infrastructure, but this village gradually became the face of development of Gujarat. There are still traditional Bhunga (Round Houses) in this village that are popular among tourists. In winter, due to the white salt, this village acquires amazing whiteness.
Mr. Arora said, “Every year, 2 to 2.5 lakh people come here. The village is also expanding. And tourism has boosted the economy of the village. The amenities that should have been provided here due to tourism have gradually developed. The biggest benefit from this has been the development of infrastructure. Everything from road to medical infrastructure has been developed. Many common amenities have also been created.”
It is being said that the Prime Minister had the dream of bringing Dhordo on the world map when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. That’s why, from the district administration to the tourism department, all have focused on this village and provided every possible help to develop it as per world tourism standards. In fact, the Tourism Department had filed the nomination for the Best Tourism Village 2023.
THE RANN UTSAV
This time the Rann Utsav it is starting from 10 November and will last till the end of February, if the weather stays cool and pleasant.
A man named Gulbeg Mian from Dhordo village had started the efforts to organize the Rann Utsav in the village, three decades ago. In the 90s, there used to be a day-long festival on a small scale. But, from 2008, the festival started in tents. A tent city was built for the Utsav where tourists can stay in tents and enjoy the white salt expanse of the desert of Kutch during the winter season.
THE VILLAGE ECONOMY
As tourism progresses here, the economy of the village has been boosted further. The traditional handicrafts have got a big boost. When tourists come, the handicrafts of local artisans are showcased in front of them, due to which these have become famous all over the world. And this has given a major thrust to the local economy.
Mr. Arora said, “The special circuit ‘Road to Heaven’ will also develop further in the coming time, because the government has already chalked out expansion plans for it.”
SELECTION PROCESS
The ‘Best Tourism Villages 2023’ award by UNWTO was launched in 2021 and the initiative promotes tourism for sustainable development globally. The awards are bestowed to the villages that are best in rural development and preservation of landscapes, cultural diversity, local values and food traditions. This year, the ceremony was held in the third week of October at Samarkand in Uzbekistan. Other villages that were awarded include Shirakawa in Japan, Filandia in Colombia, Cantavieja in Spain and La Carolina in Argentina.
