Matholi Village in Uttarkashi Shows the Power of Women Empowerment

From running homestays to guiding tours, women are leading a change in Matholi Village.

Matholi village in the Chinyalisaur block of Uttarkashi is slowly becoming known as “Bwari Gaon,” and it’s not just because of its beautiful surroundings, but because of the women who are shaping its future. While most tourists usually visit popular places like Harsil Valley or Mori-Sankri, this small village is now attracting visitors in its own way, thanks to the efforts of local women.

The idea started during the COVID-19 lockdown when a young man named Pradeep Panwar returned to his village, Matholi village . He had some experience working in the tourism industry, and instead of waiting for things to get better, he decided to take action. He turned an old cowshed, locally called a chhani, into a homestay for tourists. But what made his idea truly special was that he involved the women of the village. He trained them in cooking, hospitality, guiding tours, and even trekking.

Pradeep also gave the village a new name “Bwari Gaon” to highlight the important role women were playing in this transformation. He began organizing events like the “Ghasyari Competition” to give visitors a taste of local life, which became quite popular. One of the residents, Anita Panwar, shared that more and more women are now coming forward to open their own homestays Matholi village and other places after seeing the change.

Pradeep’s homestay officially started on March 8, 2022, and is now registered with the tourism department. It also accepts online bookings. Since it opened, over 1,000 tourists have visited, and around 20 women have been able to earn from it in different ways.

Over 5,300 Homestays Registered in Uttarakhand

Right now, there are 5,331 homestays registered with the state tourism department, and many of them are run by women in rural areas. Under the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Homestay Scheme, the government gives financial help—up to 25% in the plains and 33% in the hills—for setting up homestays.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that Matholi Village is a great example of how tourism can bring growth to villages and give women new opportunities. He also added that any family in the village who wants to start a homestay will be given full support from the tourism department, including help with registration and access to government schemes.

Matholi’s story is not just about tourism—it’s about how women can lead change when given the chance, and how a small village can become an inspiration for many others.

– Story Aaj

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