From next year, Himachal Pradesh is going to offer much more than Kullu Manali, Dharamshala and Shimla as tourist destinations.State government is working to make its villages more tourist-friendly so visitors can enjoy rural hospitality. As part of the plan, tourists would also get to hear stories associated with the villages they visit. Rural tourism circuit would be launched from Nerti village in Kangra on December 22. 

The sleepy hamlet of Nerti is located at a distance of 24km from Dharamshala. It is where Kangra's popular folk dance 'chamakra' originated. The village witnessed a fierce battle between rulers of Chamba and Kangra 217 years back. Legend has it that Chamba's king Naresh Singh had kept fighting even after he was decapitated by Kangra's ruler Sansar Chand. 

Tourists coming to this village would get to admire the beauty of this quaint village nestled in the lap of Dhauladhar range. About two kilometres from Nerti is a place called Macchial, which is popular for its waterfall. Folklore has it that the spring has divine powers and if a barren woman takes a dip there, she would be blessed with a child. 

Simialrly, in Baghi village of Balichowki area in Mandi district, the seat of local deity Kotlu Devta is trusted by locals for ending domestic, social and criminal disputes. They believe a complainant just has to hammer a nail into the pillar of the temple and the person who has wronged him confesses his crime. The practice is still prevalent in the village. 

Places associated with such legends and folklore have been chosen for this plan so people show interest in visiting those instead of going to overcrowded destinations like Manali, Dalhousie, Dharamshala and Shimla, which have almost nothing new for tourists. The plan is also known as 'Har Gaon Ki Kahani' or 'Every Village Tells a Story'. 

At present, tourists coming to the state mostly visit sites which were developed by the British. This is the first major step for providing new destinations, which would also improve economy of rural areas. Other villages in the plan include Saho in Chamba, Nari in Una, Baniya Devi in Solan, Udaipur in Lahaul-Spiti, Sangrah in Sirmaur, Bela in Hamirpur, Bruva in Kinnaur, Shamshar in Kullu, Hewn in Shimla and Salasi in Bilaspur. 

TOI