MANALI: Kullu villages are buzzing with activity these days with most tourists opting to stay in the secure, healthy and natural atmosphere of rural areas. Despite some hotels in Kullu-Manali trying their best to retain tourists, homestays and other accommodation options in villages are attracting visitors in large numbers.
Tourism industry sources said that the search for new, unspoiled culture of hills and friendly attitude of villagers is making the tourists land in villages. Kullu district has 196 registered homestay units, which are doing a brisk business. Influenced by the changing trend in tourism that is shifting from towns to villages, many villagers have applied for registration of their households as homestay units. Mushrooming concrete structures in towns, besides pollution and noise, are turning tourists increasingly towards villages, they said.
"You can see that rooms in hotels are vacant, but most homestay units are occupied. The tastes of tourists are changing with time," chairman of Himachal Homestay Association, Sanjay Dutta, said. The accommodation in homestays is much cheaper than hotels as no luxury or service taxes are applicable here, he said.
"Tourists get fresh food and generally extend their stay. Staying in calm and serene atmosphere of villages help tourists fight the stress of modern living and relax. They also get to know about how the villagers grow vegetables and grains, how they prepare for winters and also about their tough but simple living," Dutta said.
Despite heavy rush of tourists to Kullu valley, occupancy in many hotels was not more than 70%, sources said. On the other hand, tourists were exploring untouched and new areas, especially homestay units, they said.
"Tourists love their stay with us. Generally, most of them learn 'pahadi recipes' from us and cook their food in our kitchen. We watch television together and discuss our lifestyle and culture with them. We need no marketing, our guests refer their friends and relatives," owner of Himalayan Cottage Homestay, Ankush Bhardwaj, said.
Not only homestays are promoting village tourism but are also strengthening the economy of villages as consumption of products like milk, fruits and vegetables has increased manyfold. The homestay units are also attracting high end tourists from abroad with Naggar, Batahar, Sarsei, Karjan, Shanag, Simsa, Katrain, Tosh, Kasol, Jibhi, Aleo, Prini and Shuru, among others, being the top selling villages recently, sources said.
"You can see that rooms in hotels are vacant, but most homestay units are occupied. The tastes of tourists are changing with time," chairman of Himachal Homestay Association, Sanjay Dutta, said. The accommodation in homestays is much cheaper than hotels as no luxury or service taxes are applicable here, he said.
"Tourists get fresh food and generally extend their stay. Staying in calm and serene atmosphere of villages help tourists fight the stress of modern living and relax. They also get to know about how the villagers grow vegetables and grains, how they prepare for winters and also about their tough but simple living," Dutta said.
Despite heavy rush of tourists to Kullu valley, occupancy in many hotels was not more than 70%, sources said. On the other hand, tourists were exploring untouched and new areas, especially homestay units, they said.
"Tourists love their stay with us. Generally, most of them learn 'pahadi recipes' from us and cook their food in our kitchen. We watch television together and discuss our lifestyle and culture with them. We need no marketing, our guests refer their friends and relatives," owner of Himalayan Cottage Homestay, Ankush Bhardwaj, said.
Not only homestays are promoting village tourism but are also strengthening the economy of villages as consumption of products like milk, fruits and vegetables has increased manyfold. The homestay units are also attracting high end tourists from abroad with Naggar, Batahar, Sarsei, Karjan, Shanag, Simsa, Katrain, Tosh, Kasol, Jibhi, Aleo, Prini and Shuru, among others, being the top selling villages recently, sources said.
Source : TOI
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