A 16-member study group from the National Defence College (NDC), New Delhi, visited two homestay facilities in Khari village, near Bhopal, on the occasion of Rang Panchami. The group was welcomed with traditional tika and gulal by the villagers and got a firsthand experience of local culture and traditions. They also praised the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board for its initiatives to develop rural tourism in the state.
Speaking about the visit, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture, and Religious Trusts & Endowments Department, and Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, said, “The study group explored rural homestays and appreciated the rich cultural heritage of Madhya Pradesh. Through rural tourism, the Tourism Board is creating employment opportunities for villagers while offering tourists an immersive experience of village life.”
The study group included senior officials from India and various countries:
• Maj. Gen. Mukesh Agarwal
• Prakash Praveen Siddharth (IRS)
• Commodore Manish Deshpande
• Brig. Gurpreet Singh Maan
• Col. Bijit Raj Regmi (Nepal)
• Col. Calex Migabo (Rwanda)
• Air Commodore Ashish Kumar
• Col. Khalid Al-Musaidi
• Brig. Pramod Mishra
• Brig. Manish Nagpal
- Air Commodore Pankaj Mittal
• Col. Myo Aung (Myanmar)
• Brig. Sudip Das Gupta
• Col. Prisco Junior Tabo (Philippines)
• Brig. Shailendra Bisht
• Capt. M.V. Orpe
During the visit, the study group enjoyed local cuisine, interacted with villagers, and observed their daily lifestyle, food habits, and traditions. Maj. Gen. Mukesh Agarwal, head of the group, praised the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, stating, “The board is making excellent efforts to promote rural tourism. This visit has been a unique experience, and many countries can learn from Madhya Pradesh’s tourism model.”
The group was also given two presentations on Madhya Pradesh’s tourism destinations and rural tourism initiatives by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board. The study group is in the state from March 16 to March 20. Their visit to the Khari village homestays provided them with a deeper understanding of the cultural and traditional richness of Madhya Pradesh.
