Did you know Chandlapur in Siddipet is best in India’s rural tourism?

Hyderabad: Chandlapur in Siddipet district in Telangana has achieved the rare distinction of becoming the Best Rural Tourism Village in the country. The Ministry of Tourism has recognised this tiny rural part of the Telangana State for its distinct qualities and achievements on different fronts.

The village, with a population of 4,500 persons, is famous for its intricate and exquisite handlooms. Chandlapur is known for its ancient and traditional bent of handloom activity, especially the special Gollabhaama sarees.

Chandlapur located amid nature and culture

It is located in the cluster of Ranganayaka Swamy Temple, known for rural tourism. The recreational zone of Komati Lake, the piousness of Wargal Saraswathi Temple and the colourful Nakashi painting cluster of Cherial surround the village and add to its magic. The Komuravelli Mallikarjunaswami temple is also one of the many tourist attractions here.

On the cultural front, the village is known for its ancient religious attractions like temples, mosques and churches. The cultural resources and iconic crafts of the region reflect the traditional grandeur of this rural area. The natural resources of this part include a rural tourism spot on the historical Ranganayaka hills. The Ranganayaka Swamy Temple is known as a remedy for mental and physical ailments.

Reservoir adds to Chandlapur’s beauty

Ranganayaka Sagar Reservoir, a recent addition to Chandlapur, is its crown jewel. The Ranganayaka Sagar is one of the link reservoirs of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project situated near Siddipet town.

Ranganayaka Sagar is known as a mega tourism destination and the administration of Telangana has developed it with Rs 10 crore, incorporating facilities for leisure and recreation-cum-MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), making it a perfect tourist destination.

The village, being the hub of famous Gollbhama sarees for generations, is promoting the culture of the place. The grama panchayat of this tiny village is known for continuous conservation and protection of cultural resources and tourism.

Sustainability is a priority for Chandlapur

Chandlapur is known for its environmental sustainability activities. Various initiatives were taken by the village authorities for the promotion of micro water shed activity and community-based management of natural resources.

Similarly, Chandlapur is known for its commitment to banning single-use plastic. The village promoted the plastic ban awareness by providing cloth bags and jute bags to its inhabitants, who practise natural resource utilisation through solar lights.

The village also promoted the Telanganaku Haritha Haram (THH) on a large scale. It is also revitalising rural tourism concepts with a broader approach, thereby providing direct and indirect employment to many persons.

The village’s basic amenity improvement concepts put it in the top slot at the national level in the tourism promotion. The village has many tourism promotion activities such as the Haritha Hotel and a Shilparaamam. The tourism activity in this village got a major nod under the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises and entrepreneurship drive.

Apart from Chandlapur, Pembarthi village of Jangaon district was also adjudged the best tourism village by Rural Tourism India. Of the 795 rural areas, Pembarthi got this distinction for preserving and promoting rural artisan activity.