- Description

Kurauana has been recognized as the Best Tourism Village 2023 in Silver Category.

Kurauana village is nestled with ageless stories and the timeless traditions. The tales of the past and fable of the folks makes it ideal for the pilgrim travellers. The festive gatherings, mystically charged temples conferring the serene tranquillity to the village.

Kurauana has casted the imperative infrastructure for tourism by seamlessly blending public-private partnerships (PPP) with government initiatives like PRASHAD.

- INTRODUCTION

The village has a population of 2750 and is located at the geographic coordinates of Latitude: 686579.72 m E and Longitude: 2809167.77 m N. It experiences an annual tourist inflow of approximately 9 lakh visitors, with around 30,000 domestic tourists, primarily from South India, and approximately 1,500 international tourists. The village offers a total of 7 accommodation units with around 50 beds, including 7 Dharmshalas and a Tourist Facilitation Center developed under the "PRASAAD Scheme," which provides 15 rooms and 3 halls.

- THEME

The village's tourism theme revolves around Cultural Tourism, history, architecture, lifestyle, dance, music, festivals, handicrafts, folk traditions, and local cuisine. It emphasizes the promotion of local products such as Banarsi Saree, organic farming, waste-to-wealth practices, and the unique food item "Bati Chokha."

- NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

1. Panchkosi Marg and Varuna River: The village is located at Panchkosi Marg and along the Varuna River, offering scenic views and river-based tourism activities like boating.

2. Cultural Activities: Visitors can engage in cultural activities such as Bhajan Sandhya, marriages, and experiencing daily rural life, agricultural and cattle farms, and interacting with villagers.

3. Temples and Ashrams: Notable attractions include the Rameshwar Temple (believed to be built by Lord Shri Ram), Shiv Setu Ghat, Jharkhandeshwar Mahadev Ashram, and Varuna Ghats.

4. Organic Farming: The village practices organic farming, and tourists can participate in farming activities.

5. Lota-Bhanta Mela: This annual fair celebrates the "Bati-Chokha" food offering to God.

6. Historical Significance: Lord Rama visited the village twice, and it is believed that he created a Shiva Linga with sand. The Pancha Pandavas and Draupadi also offered prayers in the village during their exile.

- INITIATIVE/EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

● Sustainable Development: The village focuses on sustainable development through public-private partnership (PPP) models, linking cultural values and natural resources with tourism, and maintaining historical sites and old trees.

● Community Participation: The community actively participates in tourism activities for long-term economic and social sustainability.

● Conservation: Natural and cultural resources are transformed into tourism products, contributing to their conservation.

● Organic Farming: The village promotes organic farming practices and encourages tourists to engage in local farming activities.

● Waste Management: Waste reduction practices, including waste segregation, composting, and recycling, are implemented.

- IMPACTS

● Environmental Conservation: Initiatives like organic farming and waste management contribute to environmental sustainability.

● Social Inclusion: Tourism benefits all sections of the community, including women, artisans, and local businesses.