### Devmali Village in Rajasthan Awarded Best Tourism Village

**New Delhi,  Devmali village in the Bhilwara district of Rajasthan has been honored with the Best Tourism Village award by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, on the occasion of World Tourism Day. The award was received by the then District Collector of Bhilwara, Mr. Utsav Kaushal, and the village sarpanch, Pooja Gurjar.

The award ceremony took place at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, where Devmali village was recognized in the community-based tourism category. The event was attended by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Culture and Tourism), Kinjirapu Ram Mohan Naidu (Civil Aviation), and Suresh Gopi (Minister of State for Tourism), along with officials from the Ministry of Tourism.

To promote tourism in India's villages, the Best Village Competition was launched in 2023. In the second edition of the competition in 2024, a total of 991 applications were received from 30 states and union territories, with 36 villages being honored in eight categories.

The main objective of this award ceremony is to identify and reward villages that preserve and nurture their cultural and natural heritage through community-based values in tourism.

Located near Ajmer in the Bhilwara district, Devmali is known as the land of Lord Devanarayan. The village's culture and lifestyle have played a crucial role in securing this award. It is said that around 3,000 bighas of land have been inhabited by the locals for years, yet no one possesses any legal documents regarding land ownership. According to the villagers, the land is dedicated to Lord Devanarayan, making Him the true owner.

The residents of this village are devoted followers of Lord Devanarayan and have vowed not to construct permanent houses in the village. All homes here are made of mud, with thatched roofs, and no one consumes non-vegetarian food or alcohol. Additionally, there is a complete ban on using kerosene oil and neem wood for cooking.

It is also noteworthy that there have been no reports of theft or robbery in the village for several decades. The temple located at the hilltop dedicated to Lord Devanarayan is a popular site, attracting millions of tourists each year.

According to local villagers, many years ago, when Lord Devanarayan arrived in the village, He requested a place to stay. The community built a local house for Him and also agreed that they would never construct permanent homes for themselves. As a result, no concrete or metal rods are used in the construction of homes here. The only permanent structures in the village are government buildings and temples, which sets this village apart, making it an attractive destination for tourists.