India is a land of diversity where all the religions and cultures reside altogether. Along with its diverse culture, India is home to many incredible and unique villages in India. These incredible villages of India are spread all over India. So, now you might be wondering about What is so Incredible about these villages? So without most of your time, let us have a ride to the incredible and unique village list in India.
A LAND OF SNAKES: SHETPHAL, MAHARASHTRA
This incredible village is only 200 kilometres, far away from Pune City and located in Solapur District, Maharashtra. A small number of people, the approx population of 3,000 live in this place. It is a belief that the idea of worshipping snakes has all started from this incredible place in India.
WHY IS SHETPHAL INCREDIBLE?
- Every house of this place has a special place for a snake and is famous as Devasthan.
- The villagers believe that if the snake visits and rests at their sweet homes, they will receive a blessing from God Sheshnaag.
- The snake moves freely inside the houses, and even though the household members do not scream or act strangely with the snake.
- Even kids also love to play with the snake.
A HOUSE WITHOUT DOOR: SHANI SHIGNAPUR, MAHARASHTRA
A village that is popular for the Hindu God Shani and located in Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra. It is visited by thousands of devotees every year to pay admiration to the Mighty Lord Shanidev. Generally, the villagers receive 100-45000 visitors a day. The villagers celebrate the auspicious day of New Moon Day to honour the God Shani. Lakhs of devotees visit this place to worship God, Shani.
WHY IS SHANI SHIGNAPUR INCREDIBLE?
- Not even a single house has any door, and even though they never lock their door. It is a belief that anyone who tries to steal here. God Shani will be a destroyer for the culprit.
- Even though the temple has extensive property and donations, still it does not have doors.
- The villagers believed that if a person steals, they will face a Sade Saati (Seven and a Half Years of Bad Luck).
- The villagers believe that if they install the door to their houses. On the very next day, something absurd will happen. Further, they believed that God Shani guards over this place.
- Believe it or not! This incredible place does not have any police either.
A VILLAGE OF MILLIONAIRES: HIWARE BAZAR, MAHARASHTRA
A Village of Millionaires! Yes, you read it right. You might be wondering about a village of Millionaires and even though situated in India. There is an incredible and unique place in India located at Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, and regarded as India’s Model Village due to its highest GDP amongst Indian villages. Despite the fact, this place was under a great depression till 1990. Almost 90 per cent of the villagers shift to nearby cities for better living. Although, the new dawn of the place was started when they felt the need to appoint a young leader as a Village Head. Later, Popatrao Baguji Pawar was appointed as a village head in the year 1990. Consequently, he has shut down all the liquor stores and prohibited the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and open defecation.
Every year this place receives an adequate amount of rainfall when compared to the other villages of Maharashtra. Popatrao Baguji Pawar started to construct rainwater harvesting and various agriculture facilities using government donations. These small steps of facilitating various agriculture essentials have assisted the villagers. It also met the demand of the agriculture requirement. Therefore, there was an improvement in agriculture, and it became the primary source of income for the villagers.
In addition to agriculture, the villagers practice cattle farming and produce more than 3000 litres of milk every day. This miracle was happening all because of Popatrao Baguji Pawar, the village head. He is only the person who has changed the socio-economic dimension of this incredible place in India.
WHY IS HIWARE BAZAR INCREDIBLE?
- The per capita income was INR 830 in 1995. In 2017, this changed tremendously, as you can witness an increase in per capita income up to INR 30,000.
- Approx 1,350 villagers are the residents of this incredible place of India. Surprisingly, around 60 are Millionaires out of the total population.
- You will not witness anyone who consumes alcohol and tobacco because of the prohibition in 1990 itself.
- All the basic facilities are well established in this incredible village. We talk about a toilet in every house, schools and healthcare, the water pipeline and electricity connection. Even though they use biogas, they also fulfil the requirements.
- The village community bears all the expenses of the marriage and education of the second daughter of any villager.
- Most of the children study the subject of medicine. Therefore, everyone is aware of family planning, AIDS preventive methods, and other health-related activities.
- In 2016, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, also praised this incredible place on Mann Ki Baat Radio. Popatrao Baguji Pawar was appointed as the chairman of the Model Village Programme of the State of Maharashtra.
A VILLAGE OF TWINS: KODINHI, KERALA
Kodinhi, The Village of Twins! Located in Malappuram, Kerala and is a short drive of 32 kilometres from Calicut. It’s in India, where you find these incredible and unique places. This place gained recognition across the world due to the high rate of twin birth. Approx 2,000 families live here. According to the research of the International Team of Genetic Researchers, more than 400 pairs of twins reside here happily. I was surprised when I heard about the number of twins because India is famous for the lowest twinning rates in the entire world.
WHY IS KODINHI INCREDIBLE?
- The twin birth rate of Kodinhi is 45 in every 1000 births compared to the national average twin birth rate of India is just 9 in every 1000 births.
- This place holds the record for the highest number of twins in India, and approx 10 per cent of the village population consists of twins. Though it has a small population, 15 pairs of twins are born every year.
- According to the research, the elements of air and water of this place could be the reasons for the high twin rate.
- There is only one family member who does not have a twin from the past two generations.
- Surprisingly, if a man or woman gets married to a person from another village, a high rate of twin birth is still observed.
A VILLAGE OF ANCIENT LANGUAGE: MATTUR, KARNATAKA
India is one of the oldest civilisations in the world. It is obvious to find a village of the ancient language, located in Shimoga, Karnataka. The ancient Brahmin community who migrated from Kerala are the inhabitants, and approx 5000 people stay here. Surprisingly! It is popularly famous for speaking the Sanskrit language despite the Kannada language being the state language. Most of the villagers communicate in Sanskrit, and one can observe the written signboards in Sanskrit.
WHY IS MATTUR INCREDIBLE?
- Less than 1 per cent speak the Sanskrit language in the entire country. On the contrary, the villagers communicate and are fluent in Sanskrit that has become a common language.
- By doing this, they are promoting Sanskrit and a free way to preserve the language. The villagers are generous to teach Sanskrit for free to anyone who finds interest in learning.
- Interestingly! Mattur has some of the finest academic records in the district. The only reason behind the excellent academic record is due to the knowledge of Sanskrit.
- The students need to learn how Vedas are chanted originally at Pathshala and have to master it within five years under the guidance of village elders.
A VILLAGE OF BACHELORS FOR 50 YEARS: BARWAAN KALA, BIHAR
India is a place where marriage is not less than a festival. What do we find here? A village of bachelors for 50 years even though in Bihar. Barwaan Kala – INCREDIBLE AND UNIQUE VILLAGE, located in the remote corner of Bihar, and approx 6000 people and 400 households reside here. Regardless of the highest number of unmarried bachelors in India. Surprisingly, the villagers have not witnessed any marriage for 50 years. Who is at fault here? People do not get married for 50 Years, and not even a single marriage takes place. Ohh my highness! A lack of a proper road to this place was the main reason the marriage did not happen. Since this place is so remote and the roads are so poor, they do not allow outsiders to travel to and from here.
WHY IS BARWAAN KALA UNIQUE?
- Only 169 bachelors left here to get married, and the bachelors who left this place are called the “Village of Unmarried People”. In 2015, the villagers celebrated their first six kilometres stretch of road.
- After two years of road construction, the first marriage after a long gap of 50 years in Bardaan village happens. The name of the bridegroom is Ajay Kumar, and the bride is Neetu Kumari. Finally, the chain breaks down.
- Interestingly! One can even find bachelors at the age of 80 years old. The main desire of the villagers to bring women from another village was the development.
THE CLEANEST VILLAGE OF ASIA: MAWLYNNONG, MEGHALAYA
Surprise Surprise Surprise!!! The Cleanest village in Asia is Mawlynnong and located in the East Khasi Hills district, just 90 kilometres away from Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya. However, it is a small village but always remains a model for others in Asia. It has won the award for the Cleanest Village in Asia, 2003 and the Cleanest Village in India in 2005. Interestingly, it has earned the reputation for being arguably the cleanest, best-educated, incredible and unique place in India.
WHY IS MAWLYNNONG AN INCREDIBLE AND UNIQUE VILLAGE?
- Everyone takes responsibility to maintain the cleanliness of this place. One can find dustbins made of bamboo in the streets.
- In schools, children study how to keep their surroundings clean and green from an early age. Therefore, you will not witness any piece of litter even though a single leaf has fallen from a tree.
- Interestingly! You are not allowed to take plastic in the village. Even though the sale of liquor is also not allowed.
- The main unique feature of this place lies in its living root bridge. It is a suspension bridge and helps the villagers to cross the river.
A VILLAGE WHERE HUMANS AND BIRDS LIVE IN HARMONY: KOKREBELLUR, KARNATAKA
Interestingly! There is an incredible and unique village located in Mandya district, Karnataka and just 83 kilometres from Bangalore City. Even the village name Korkrebellur is also adopted from the bird name Kokre that means painted stork in Kannada. One can witness the birds nest and birds live freely throughout the village of Korkrebellur. The most prominent fact is that it proves humans can coexist with birds. Here, you can witness mostly the painted storks and spot-billed pelicans. In 2009, these birds were in the list of near threatened categories of the IUCN Red List. Therefore, the villagers have opened their hearts to live in harmony and to preserve these birds.
WHY IS KOKREBELLUR AN INCREDIBLE AND UNIQUE VILLAGE?
- There is not any bird sanctuary but, it is a village where birds can freely live. However, the villagers adopted these birds, treated them as their daughters and considered them a sign of prosperity and good luck.
- Most of the birds are friendly, and it’s been a decade now the villagers and birds live in harmony. Even if birds eat their crops, the villagers still nurture and are happy to adopt these birds.
- There are 21 breeding sites in India, and this village is one of the breeding spots in India. Gradually, it has become one of the heavens for rare migratory birds.
- Besides Painted Storks and spot-billed Pelicans, other birds also found nesting and breeding in the village, such as grey-heron, black ibis, Indian pond heron.
THE FIRST FULLY SOLAR-POWERED VILLAGE OF INDIA: DHARNAI, BIHAR
Some people believe Bihar is one of the backward states in India. Kindly break your stereotype mindset because there is a village located in Jehanabad District, Bihar, where approx 3,207 villagers with 541 houses reside. For many years this place didn’t have any electricity. An idea clicks over the mind of villagers why we should not install a solar-powered micro-grid with the help of the Greenpeace organisation. In 2014, the initial cost of the project was approx INR 3 Crore. Subsequently revolutionised the lives of the villagers. Now, Solar Power provides 24 hours of electricity. It has become the first fully solar-powered village in India. However, the villagers also use cow dung for cooking and lighting as an alternative source of energy. This is why Dharnai is INCREDIBLE AND UNIQUE VILLAGE of India.
A VILLAGE WHERE FROGS ARE MARRIED: RONGDOI, ASSAM
Marriage of frogs!!! Is it Possible? Yes, You read it right. There is a village located in the district of Jorhat, Assam, where you can witness the marriage. In this village, they still have mythological beliefs of the frog marriage to please the Hindu Rain God Varun, and so, they can bring rain. However, the frog marriage takes place when water is scarce in the village. During the marriage ceremonies, all the villagers gather till late at night at the Rongdoi Village community hall to witness the wedding. So, it also enters our long list of incredible and unique villages in India. This is why RONGDOI is INCREDIBLE AND UNIQUE VILLAGE of India.
A VILLAGE WITH THE PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE: KORLAI, MAHARASHTRA
Christiano Ronaldo, A Portuguese footballer, you might be aware of him. Am I right? Therefore, there is a village located in Raigarh district, Maharashtra, where approx 2900 villagers with 712 families reside. It is the only village in India where the Portuguese language is still widely spoken. It is also one of the incredible and unique villages of India.
So, Have you liked all these Incredible and unique villages of India? Now, we can say that India is a land of diversity but a unified nation. All villages in India have distinct features and characters. So, it is worth visiting all these astonishing and unique villages in India. Kindly tell us your favourite incredible and unique villages of India in the comment box.
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Composed By: Abhay Ghanghas