Dhudmaras is a small village of Bastar district in Chhattisgarh, which is at a distance of 35kms from Jagdalpur main city. Nowadays it become a hot topic & place to visit by traveller & also by the local bodies because it has been selected to participate in Best Tourism Village Upgrade programme (BTVUP) under the United Nations Tourism for Rular Development programme (UNTRDP) by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
What is in Dhudmaras, Dhurwa Dera:
It is a heavenly place, surrounded with tall green dense forests located in Kanger Valley National Park ( KVNP ). Dhudmaras village is in the limelight because of its rich bio diversity & the mesmerizing kanger river which is present in the lap of mother nature; where the local communities came together to create a beautiful tourist place without hindering or tempering the Mother nature or the natural reservoir .
In Dhudmaras, Dhurwa Dera they provide the visitors a chance to experience the authentic tribal life through their Home stay, authentic traditional food, a tour guide to roam around and to provide a safe guard and they also enlighten and share information about their place, Kanger valley, their tribal culture, community, tribal food and much more.
The most exciting part of their Dera [ Dera is a hindi word which means a room that is rented in someone’s house] ; Their Dhudmaras, Dhurwa Dera, here the villagers have came together to create a unique recreational space for kayaking and bamboo rafting, showcasing their unity and resourcefulness. They have started welcoming tourists 3 years back and the kayaking and bamboo rafting is the very first in Chhattisgarh.
With the above recognition by the UNWTO, made the village to participate in Best Tourism Village Upgrade programme (BTVUP) under the United Nations Tourism for Rular Development programme (UNTRDP), it makes the Dhudmaras, Dhurwa Dera a potential hub for eco-tourism & sustainable development.
Whats is Special in Dhudmaras, Dhurwa Dera?
Dhudmaras, Dhurwa Dera is a beautiful example of community development. They come up with the idea & executed the plan perfectly by using their place to earn for their family without disturbing their natural habitat and by sharing & showing their homeland, art crafts & beauty of their home to the world.
You would be mesmerized by looking everywhere in Dhurwa Dera; Huts, rack shacks, even dust bin are made of bamboos.
They constructed hardy bamboo rafts using locally sourced materials, used traditional craftsmanship which passed down to them through generations.
The entire community is involved and contributing, by working together, they aim to promote eco-tourism, attract visitors, and generate income for the village, all while preserving the natural beauty of their environment, their Home.
Through their hard work and determination, the villagers are creating a sustainable way to uplift their livelihoods while preserving and celebrating their cultural and environmental heritage. Their efforts serve as an inspiring example of how traditional knowledge and modern aspirations can come together to build a brighter future for the entire community.
Here, in Dhudmaras I talked to a wise man who told me how it all started with a idea, instead of going to bigger cities for work they planned to built the homes and called it Dhurwa Dera ( Dhurwa is a tribe who live in Dhudmaras and Dera means a place to rent or stay for a while, collectively they mean WELCOME TO THE HOME OF DHURWA TRIBE ) where they can welcome people who wants to explore Bastar & its beauty through their eyes.
And the perfect addition to their work is the kayaking and bamboo rafting which is over the Kanger river in Dhudmaras.
What Dhudmaras, Dhurwa Dera provides:
- A beautiful traditional Bastariya stay at Dhurwa Dera, local village tour and they also introduce and share information about their cultural and traditions.
- Tasty traditional Bastariya food on order.
- Sightseeing to nearby waterfall: Kanger Dhara.
- A magnificent relaxing water sports kayaking and bamboo rafting.
And most importantly you would receive never forgetting experience for life time.
Hope you see and enjoy the mesmerizing Bastar through the lens of the locals, like we did.
Mesmerizing ! You wrote it so well. Definitely I’ll visit & pay attention to every detail.
Thank you 🙂
Please tag along 😁