59 places to discover
Andretta Artists Village is India's oldest artist colony, established in the 1920s by Irish theatre practitioner Norah Richards in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Located near Palampur, this village attracts artists, potters, and theatre enthusiasts. It features pottery studios, art galleries including the Sobha Singh Art Gallery, and the restored home of Norah Richards, offering visitors a unique cultural experience.
Auroville is an experimental international township located about 8 km northwest of Puducherry, straddling Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa (The Mother) based on the vision of Sri Aurobindo. Conceived as a universal town for human unity, it hosts residents from over 50 nationalities. Its central landmark is the Matrimandir, a golden spherical meditation structure surrounded by gardens, complemented by sustainable communities, pavilions and visitor facilities.
Ban Khok Mo Weaving Village is a community-based cultural attraction in Khok Mo Subdistrict, Thap Than District, Uthai Thani Province, central Thailand. The village is known for preserving traditional hand-loom weaving by the local Thai Phuan community. Visitors can observe weavers producing cotton and silk textiles with distinctive patterns, purchase handmade fabrics and products directly from artisans, and learn about local textile heritage in a rural village setting.
Ban Na Samai Basketry Village is a traditional handicraft village located in Mueang Yasothon District, Yasothon Province, northeastern Thailand. The village is renowned for its bamboo basketry and wickerwork, a craft passed down through generations of local artisans. Visitors can observe skilled weavers creating baskets, trays and household items from bamboo and rattan, and purchase handmade products directly from makers, reflecting Isan cultural heritage and community-based tourism.
Bau Truc Pottery Village is a traditional Cham pottery village located in Phuoc Dan town, Ninh Phuoc District, Khanh Hoa Province (formerly Ninh Thuan Province). Recognized as one of the oldest pottery villages in Southeast Asia, it is known for handmade ceramics made without a potter's wheel and fired outdoors with straw and wood. The village preserves Cham cultural heritage and offers insight into centuries-old techniques and distinctive terracotta products.
Bena Traditional Village is a preserved megalithic settlement on Flores Island in Jerebuu District, Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, at the foot of Mount Inerie. Inhabited by the Ngada people, it features rows of traditional high-roofed houses facing ancient stone altars and ancestral shrines Ngadhu and Bhaga. Recognized as a cultural heritage site, it offers insight into Flores' ancestral architecture, clan traditions, and weaving culture.
Bomdila is a small Himalayan hill station and the headquarters of West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh, situated at about 2,217 metres elevation. It is known for its panoramic views of the Eastern Himalayas, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, apple orchards, and as a gateway town on the route to Tawang. The town offers a blend of Monpa culture, Buddhist heritage and natural scenery.
Cat Cat Village is a traditional Black H'Mong ethnic village located about 2-3 km from Sapa town in Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam. Nestled in Muong Hoa Valley at the foot of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, it is known for preserved wooden stilt houses, terraced rice fields and Cat Cat Waterfall. Established in the mid-19th century, the village showcases traditional crafts such as brocade weaving and indigo dyeing and is one of Sapa's most visited cultural tourism destinations.
Chandpole Gate, also known as Moon Gate, is one of the seven original entry gates to Jaipur's walled Pink City, built in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. This massive stone structure with Rajput-Mughal architectural features serves as the western entrance to the old city. The gate opens into the bustling Chandpole Market, known for traditional handicrafts, marble sculptures, and textiles.
Changlang is the headquarters town of Changlang District in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, situated in forested hills at about 580 metres elevation. It serves as the administrative centre and gateway to Namdapha National Park and the Stilwell Road. The town is notable for its diverse tribal communities, surrounding tea gardens, and scenic Patkai hill landscape, and functions as a base for exploring nearby natural and cultural attractions.
Chilling Metal Craft Village is a small settlement on the Zanskar River in Leh District, Ladakh, about 60 km west of Leh. It is renowned for its centuries-old tradition of copper, brass and silver metalwork practiced by families descended from artisans brought from Nepal. Visitors come to observe coppersmiths hammering vessels, tools and religious objects using traditional hand techniques and to purchase handmade crafts in a remote Himalayan riverside setting.
Choglamsar Tibetan Settlement is a Tibetan refugee settlement located in Choglamsar, about 8 km southeast of Leh in Ladakh, India. Established in 1960 to rehabilitate Tibetan refugees, it is one of the largest Tibetan settlements in Ladakh. The settlement includes residential areas, schools, monasteries, a handicraft centre and the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, and is known for preserving Tibetan culture, crafts and Buddhist education near the Indus River.
DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum is a living-history museum located on the East Coast Road at Muttukadu, about 25 km south of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. Established by the Madras Craft Foundation and opened in 1996, it preserves and showcases the art, architecture, crafts and lifestyles of South India. The 10-acre campus features 18 authentic heritage houses relocated from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, along with craft demonstrations, exhibitions and cultural performances.
Dhordo Village is a small desert village in Kutch district, Gujarat, located on the edge of the Great Rann of Kutch, about 85 km from Bhuj. Known for its traditional Bhunga mud houses and Kutchi handicrafts, it serves as the gateway to the White Rann salt desert. The village gained international recognition after being named Best Tourism Village by UNWTO in 2023 and hosts the annual Rann Utsav festival.
The District Museum and Craft Centre Tezu is a cultural museum located in Tezu, headquarters of Lohit district in eastern Arunachal Pradesh. Established to preserve the heritage of the region, it displays tribal artifacts, traditional costumes, jewellery, weapons, wood carvings, and archaeological finds from nearby Bhismaknagar. The centre also promotes local handicrafts and handlooms, offering visitors insight into the traditions of the Mishmi, Khampti, Singpho and other communities of the Lohit valley.
Dondenling Tibetan Settlement is a large Tibetan refugee settlement located at Odeyarpalya near Kollegal in Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka. Established in 1974 on land leased by the Government of Karnataka, it is one of the major Tibetan settlements in South India. The settlement houses monasteries, schools, a cooperative society and handicraft centres and is notable for preserving Tibetan culture, Buddhism and traditional crafts.
Ende Village (Desa Adat Ende) is a traditional Sasak village located in Sengkol, Pujut District, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, near Kuta Mandalika. It is notable as a preserved cultural settlement showcasing traditional Sasak architecture, including thatched-roof houses (Bale Tani) with floors polished with buffalo dung, and hand-woven ikat textiles made by local women.
En Ooru is Kerala's first tribal heritage village located at Pookode in Wayanad district. Spread over 25 acres on a hillock near the Kerala Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, this cultural destination showcases the vibrant traditions, lifestyle, art, and architecture of indigenous tribal communities. Managed by tribal communities themselves, it features traditional huts, craft workshops, an amphitheater, and a marketplace.
Heirloom Naga Centre is a private cultural centre and museum located at Sovima in Chümoukedima District, Nagaland, near Dimapur. Established to preserve and promote Naga heritage, it houses a collection of traditional artifacts, textiles, jewellery, and crafts representing various Naga tribes. The centre features reconstructed traditional Naga houses and morungs and serves as a venue for cultural education, exhibitions and community events.
Itanagar is the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh, located in Papum Pare district at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. Named after the historic Ita Fort, it serves as the state's administrative and cultural centre. The town is notable for its blend of tribal heritage, museums, Buddhist gompas, and natural attractions like Ganga Lake, and functions as a gateway for tourism in Arunachal Pradesh.
Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm is a historic open-air penal colony located in Barangay Iwahig, Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Established in 1904 during the American colonial period, it spans approximately 28,000 hectares and is known as the "prison without walls." Inmates live in an open community and engage in farming and handicraft production. It is notable for its rehabilitation-focused model and as a cultural and historical visitor site.
Jalesar Bell Craft Cluster is a traditional brass and bell-metal artisan settlement in Jalesar town, Etah district, Uttar Pradesh. Renowned for handmade ghungroos, bells, and brassware, the cluster comprises numerous small workshops where artisans use age-old casting and hammering techniques. Recognized under Uttar Pradesh's One District One Product scheme for Etah, it preserves a centuries-old craft heritage and offers visitors insight into rural handicraft production and local artisan culture.
Kani Shawl Weaving Village is located in Kanihama village in Beerwah tehsil of Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, about 20 km from Srinagar. The village is renowned as the traditional centre for authentic Kani shawl weaving, a handloom craft using small wooden sticks called kanis. Recognized with a Geographical Indication tag, it preserves a centuries-old weaving heritage and offers visitors insight into intricate pashmina craftsmanship passed through generations of artisan families.
Khau Vai Love Market is a traditional annual market held in Khau Vai Commune, Meo Vac District, Tuyen Quang Province in northern Vietnam. Held once a year on the 26th and 27th days of the third lunar month, it is known as a historic meeting place for ethnic minority groups. The market is notable for its cultural performances, traditional costumes, and its long-standing legend of forbidden love, attracting domestic and international visitors.
Kim Bong Carpentry Village is a traditional woodworking village located on Cam Kim Island across the Thu Bon River from Hoi An Ancient Town in Da Nang municipality, Vietnam. Established in the 15th century by craftsmen from northern Vietnam, it historically supplied woodwork, furniture and boats for the Hoi An trading port. Today it preserves carpentry heritage with family workshops producing furniture, sculptures and architectural details, offering visitors insight into centuries-old techniques and craft traditions.
Kunhimangalam Heritage Village is a renowned bronze and bell-metal craft center in Kannur district, Kerala. Located near Payyanur on the banks of Perumba River, this village preserves a 900-year-old tradition of handcrafted bronze sculptures, lamps, and panchaloha idols created by skilled Moosari artisans using ancient lost-wax casting techniques.
Lac Village, locally called Ban Lac, is a traditional White Thai ethnic village in Chieng Chau Commune, Mai Chau District, Phu Tho Province, about 135 km southwest of Hanoi. Established over 700 years ago, it is notable for its preserved stilt houses, brocade weaving tradition, and scenic setting among rice paddies and limestone karsts. The village is a center for community-based tourism offering homestays and cultural experiences.
Longding is the headquarters town of Longding District in southeastern Arunachal Pradesh, near the borders with Nagaland and Myanmar. Situated in forested hills at about 1,000 metres elevation, it is the cultural centre of the Wancho tribe. Created as a separate district in 2012 after bifurcation from Tirap, the town serves as an administrative and market hub and is noted for traditional wood carving, beadwork, and village heritage.
Longleng Town is the administrative headquarters of Longleng District in northeastern Nagaland, India, situated at about 1,066 metres elevation in the Patkai hills. Inhabited predominantly by the Phom Naga tribe, it serves as the cultural and commercial centre of the district. The town is noted for its scenic hill surroundings, traditional Phom heritage, local handicrafts and views of the Dikhu River valley, offering visitors insight into Naga tribal life in a remote hill setting.
Lung Ri Tile Village is a traditional craft village in Lung Ri Hamlet, Tu Do Commune, Quang Hoa District, Cao Bang Province, northern Vietnam. Inhabited by the Nung An ethnic group, it is renowned for producing handmade yin-yang roof tiles used on local stilt houses. The village preserves centuries-old techniques using clay, wood-fired kilns and manual molding, offering visitors insight into a distinctive northern Vietnamese architectural craft and rural community life.
The Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum is a state-run cultural museum located on Shyamla Hills in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Inaugurated in 2013, it is dedicated to the tribal heritage of Madhya Pradesh and showcases the art, customs, housing, rituals and lifestyle of the state's major tribes including Gond, Bhil, Baiga, Korku, Bharia, Sahariya and Kol. Designed with immersive galleries, recreated dwellings and interactive displays, it serves as a centre for preservation and interpretation of tribal culture.
Mai Chau Valley is a rural valley in Mai Chau District, Phu Tho Province (formerly Hoa Binh Province), about 135 km southwest of Hanoi in northern Vietnam. Surrounded by limestone karst mountains and rice paddies, it is known for its scenic agricultural landscape and villages of the White Thai ethnic group. The valley is notable for traditional stilt houses, brocade weaving, and low-impact tourism centered on cycling and homestays.
Mayong Central Museum and Emporium is a cultural museum located in Mayong village, Morigaon district, Assam, about 40 km from Guwahati. Known as the Land of Black Magic, Mayong's museum preserves artifacts related to ancient magic, tantra, Ayurveda and local history. It displays ancient manuscripts, traditional tools, sculptures and ethnographic objects, while the adjoining emporium offers local handicrafts and handloom products reflecting Assamese heritage.
Mokokchung Town is the headquarters of Mokokchung District in Nagaland, situated at about 1,325 metres in the Naga Hills. Considered the cultural and intellectual centre of the Ao Naga tribe, it is known for its scenic hill setting, traditional villages, and festivals. The town serves as a base for exploring nearby Ao villages, viewpoints, and museums, offering visitors insight into Naga heritage, architecture, and community life.
Naga Heritage Village at Kisama, about 12 km from Kohima in Nagaland, is a purpose-built heritage complex that recreates a traditional Naga village. Developed by the Government of Nagaland, it serves as the permanent venue for the annual Hornbill Festival. The village features 16 tribal morungs representing Nagaland's major tribes, a World War II Museum, amphitheatre and exhibits of Naga art, architecture and lifestyle.
Naya Patachitra Village is a traditional artisan village located in Pingla block of Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal. It is home to the Chitrakar community, renowned for centuries-old Patachitra scroll painting using natural colours and storytelling through songs. The village is notable for its concentration of artist households, workshops, and the annual POT Mela festival, preserving and showcasing Bengal's living folk art heritage for visitors.
The Nirmal Toy and Wood Craft Center is a cultural hub in Nirmal town showcasing traditional wooden toys and handicrafts with a 400-year-old heritage. Located in Nirmal district of Telangana, this center features live demonstrations of toy-making, painting, and wood carving by skilled artisans. The craft received Geographical Indication (GI) tag recognition and represents an important part of Telangana's artistic legacy.
Nirona Craft Village is a small village in Nakhatrana Taluka of Kutch District, Gujarat, located about 40 km from Bhuj. It is renowned as a living craft village preserving three traditional Kutch handicrafts: Rogan painting, copper bell making, and lacquer woodwork. The village is especially famous as the only place where the 300-year-old Rogan painting tradition is practiced by the Khatri family.
Phu Vinh Bamboo Village is a traditional rattan and bamboo weaving craft village located in Phu Nghia Commune, Chuong My District, about 30 km southwest of central Hanoi. Established over 400 years ago, it is one of Hanoi's most famous craft villages, known for skilled artisans producing baskets, furniture, decorative items and souvenirs from bamboo and rattan. The village preserves traditional techniques and offers visitors insight into rural Vietnamese handicraft heritage.
Pom Coong Village is a traditional White Thai ethnic village located in Mai Chau Town, Mai Chau District, Phu Tho Province in northwestern Vietnam. Set in the flat Mai Chau Valley surrounded by rice paddies and limestone mountains, it is known for its well-preserved wooden stilt houses, brocade weaving tradition and community-based tourism. The village offers homestay accommodation and cultural experiences, representing Thai ethnic architecture and rural life.
Pragpur Heritage Village in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, was declared India's first Heritage Village by the state government in December 1997. Founded in the late 16th century, the village is renowned for its preserved architecture featuring cobblestone streets, mud-plastered walls, slate-roofed houses, and historic havelis. It offers visitors a glimpse into traditional rural life and the cultural heritage of the Kangra region.
Praijing Village is a traditional Marapu village located on a hill in Tebara, Kota Waikabubak, West Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. It is notable for its cluster of 38 traditional Sumbanese houses with towering thatched roofs and megalithic stone tombs. The village preserves ancestral architecture, ikat weaving traditions, and offers panoramic views over Waikabubak and surrounding rice fields valley.
Raghurajpur Heritage Crafts Village is a traditional crafts village located about 14 km from Puri in Puri district, Odisha. Recognized as Odisha's first heritage village, it is renowned as the centre of Pattachitra painting and other traditional crafts. Every household functions as a studio where artisans create Pattachitra, palm-leaf engravings, papier-mâché and wooden toys. The village is noted for its mural-painted houses and living artisan traditions linked to Jagannath Temple culture.
Rangla Punjab Haveli is a Punjabi cultural theme village located on the Grand Trunk Road along the Jalandhar-Phagwara Highway in Jalandhar, Punjab. Designed to recreate a traditional Punjabi village, it showcases mud huts, phulkari decor, folk music and dance, and rural lifestyle exhibits. The attraction combines cultural performances, traditional crafts, rides and authentic Punjabi cuisine, offering visitors an immersive experience of Punjab's heritage in a resort-style setting near Jalandhar city.
Sade Village (Desa Adat Sade) is a traditional Sasak village located in Rembitan, Pujut District, Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Inhabited by the indigenous Sasak people, it is known for its preserved thatched-roof houses, earthen floors polished with buffalo dung, and handwoven ikat textiles. The village offers insight into centuries-old architecture, customs, and daily life near the Mandalika tourism area.
Salmora Pottery Village is a traditional artisan settlement on Majuli Island in Assam's Majuli District, located on the southern part of the island along the Brahmaputra River. It is inhabited by the Kumar community, known for distinctive hand-beaten pottery made without a potter's wheel. Using local alluvial clay and traditional firing techniques, artisans create earthen pots, vessels and decorative items, preserving a centuries-old craft on the world's largest river island.
Sargaalaya is a 20-acre arts and crafts village located in Iringal near Vatakara in the Kozhikode district of Kerala. Established by Kerala Tourism and managed by ULCCS Ltd, it showcases traditional Kerala handicrafts through over 60 artisan stalls along the Moorad River. Visitors can observe live craft demonstrations, purchase authentic handmade products, and enjoy boating activities.
Shilparamam in Kadapa is an arts, crafts and cultural village developed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh on the Kadapa-Pulivendula Road near Yogi Vemana University. Spread over several acres, it showcases traditional handicrafts, rural art forms and cultural heritage of the region. The complex includes craft stalls, a rural museum, sculptures, boating area and an amphitheatre hosting cultural performances, serving as a recreational and cultural hub for visitors to Kadapa city.
Shilpgram is a 70-acre rural arts and crafts complex located 3 km west of Udaipur in Rajasthan. Inaugurated in 1989 by Rajiv Gandhi, it serves as a living ethnographic museum depicting the lifestyles, architecture, and crafts of folk and tribal communities from the West Zone of India. The complex features 31 traditional huts representing different states and showcases authentic handicrafts, cultural performances, and workshops.
Shilpgram is an open-air crafts village located near the Eastern Gate of the Taj Mahal in Tajganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Developed by Uttar Pradesh Tourism, it showcases traditional handicrafts, handlooms and cultural heritage of the Braj region and other parts of India. The complex features artisan workshops, emporiums, food stalls and a performance area, serving as a cultural hub for visitors to the Taj Mahal and promoting local artisans and crafts.
Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra is a cultural institution and museum complex located in Panjabari, Guwahati, Assam. Established in 1998 and named after the 15th-century saint-reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva, it preserves and promotes Assamese and Northeastern culture. The complex includes a Central Museum, open-air museum with traditional huts, art gallery, library, auditorium and open-air theatre, showcasing artifacts, crafts and heritage of Assam's diverse ethnic communities.
Sudarshan Crafts Museum is a private art and crafts museum in Baliapanda, Puri, Odisha, founded in 1977 by renowned sculptor Padma Shri Sudarsan Sahoo. Located near Puri Railway Station, it showcases stone, wood, fiberglass and terracotta sculptures demonstrating traditional Odishan craftsmanship. The museum also functions as a training centre and workshop preserving classical stone carving techniques.
Sukarara Weaving Village is a traditional Sasak craft village located in Jonggat, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, about 20 km from Mataram. It is renowned as a center for hand-woven textiles, particularly songket and ikat, made on traditional backstrap looms. The village preserves centuries-old weaving techniques passed down through generations and offers visitors direct insight into Lombok's textile heritage.
Tawang is a high-altitude Himalayan town in Tawang District of Arunachal Pradesh, situated at about 3,048 metres in the eastern Himalayas. It is known as the administrative headquarters of Tawang District and for the 17th-century Tawang Monastery, one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in India. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, alpine lakes and valleys, it is a major cultural and scenic destination in Northeast India.
The Tibetan Settlement at Chandragiri, also known as Phuntsokling, is a Tibetan refugee settlement in Gajapati District, Odisha, about 90 km from Berhampur. Established in 1963 on land provided by the Odisha government, it is the largest Tibetan settlement in eastern India. It is notable for its Buddhist monasteries, including the Padmasambhava Mahavihara Monastery, Tibetan handicrafts, and as a center preserving Tibetan culture and Buddhist traditions in Odisha.
Towale Weaving Village is a traditional handicraft village located in Towale, Banawa Tengah, Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi. It is known as the center of Donggala woven fabric (Tenun Donggala) made by Kaili artisans. Visitors can observe handloom weaving using traditional looms, see distinctive Kaili motifs and natural dyes, and purchase authentic textiles directly from weavers in a coastal village setting near Palu.
Tuensang Town is the headquarters of Tuensang District in eastern Nagaland, situated at about 1,371 metres elevation in the Naga Hills. Established as an administrative centre in the mid-20th century, it serves as a cultural hub for several Naga tribes including Chang, Sangtam, Yimkhiung and Khiamniungan. The town is known for its hilltop setting, traditional villages, local markets and views of surrounding ridges, offering visitors insight into eastern Nagaland's tribal heritage and landscape.
Udayagiri Wooden Cutlery Workshops are a cluster of artisan workshops in Udayagiri town, Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, known for handcrafted wooden spoons, forks and kitchen utensils. Made from soft, light-coloured wood traditionally harvested locally, the cutlery is noted for being eco-friendly, lightweight and non-toxic. The craft, practiced by local artisan families, has received Geographical Indication recognition and is promoted as a distinctive handicraft heritage of the region.
The White Rann of Kutch is a vast seasonal salt marsh in the Thar Desert near Dhordo village in Kutch district, Gujarat. Spread over thousands of square kilometres, it is known for its endless white salt crust formed by evaporated seawater. The site is most famous as the venue for the annual Rann Utsav and offers stark, flat landscapes, especially striking at sunrise, sunset and on full-moon nights.