Five unusual villages of India that will leave you awestruck
Do you believe villages are uninteresting or dull? Then you surely haven't visited the real villages of India. They are full of legends, culture created over centuries, and deeply rooted beliefs that can leave a lasting impact on everyone visiting them. If you visit these villages once, you will know this is where true India resides. Let’s give you a low-down on these truly unique villages in India.
Hiware Bazar: An Indian village with 60 millionaires
Are you under the impression that people residing in villages are poor? You couldn't be farther away from reality. There is a little hamlet in India that is home to 60 millionaires!
Hiware Bazar, a village in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, was a typical Indian village before 1989. However, the town's fortune abruptly changed in the 1990s. Now, many farmers are farmers in the village! Yes, you read it right. The town's rags to riches tale starts with the efforts of Popat Rao Baguji Pawar, the village chief. After becoming village Sarpanch, he built contour trenches to preserve rain water, and motivated villagers to take up plantation activities. As the chief of Panchayat, with the other members of the village, he prepared a 5-year ecological regeneration plan. Thus he changed the village's socio-economic makeup, making it one of India's model villages.
Longwa: The village with two country citizenships
Longwa, a village located 42 km away from Nagaland, is home to the Konyak tribe. These tribal people move across India and Myanmar without a visa on a daily basis. Some of them even have residences on both sides of the Indian border. Interestingly, the village chief's home sits just on the international boundary of these two countries. Both Indian and Myanmar's nationals live in this village. These people have equal allegiance to both countries. Many of the village's young men are soldiers of the Myanmar army too! Due to this tribe's dual citizenship, they serve both nations with loyalty.
Shani Shingnapur: The mysterious village of no doors or locks
While cities across India are busy enhancing their security systems, Shani Shingnapur, a village in the Ahmadnagar district of Maharashtra, does not have locks or doors. The village has nearly 4,000 residents, and all the homes, businesses, shops and post offices do not have doors or locks! You only see the door in its frame in these houses. The villagers have unwavering devotion to the Hindu deity Shani Dev (Lord of the planet Saturn). They claim that Lord Shani guards their village. It is believed that anyone who tries to steal here will experience Sade-Sati, the reverse of good fortune. Despite no security, this village actually has a meagre crime rate.
Shetphal Village: Where snakes are family
Shetphal village is located in Maharashtra's Solapur district, 200 kilometers from Pune. What makes this hamlet so unique? The community takes snakes very seriously. So much so that the snakes are given a permanent home in the house in addition to being worshipped!
Hold on, we are not talking about just any snake here. We are referring to the Indian cobra, one of the most dreaded and poisonous snakes in the world. Surprisingly, none of the village residents has ever died of cobra bite. Snakes can be found anywhere in the house, just like any other family member. The cobras are worshipped in every house of this village due to their ancient origin and connection with Hindu Lord Shiva. These snakes are also permitted to move freely throughout the village, like any other inhabitant.
Mattur: The only Sanskrit-speaking Indian village
A community in Karnataka retains the distinction of still speaking Sanskrit at a time when Indian regional languages are fighting for survival. Welcome to Mattur, a village in Karnataka's Shimoga District. It is one of the few locations in India where people regularly communicate in Sanskrit.
A historic Brahmin community that moved from Kerala some 600 years ago now calls Mattur home. Sanskar Bharati, a school in the village teaches Sanskrit to about 5,000 people. The students begin to study the Vedas and get training from their Sanskrit teachers.