The eco-sensitive hill station in Maharashtra has no pucca roads and vehicles are a strict no-no. The only sound is that of birds in the daytime, and crickets at night. Or, perhaps the pitter-patter of raindrops on the window panes and on the red-tiled roofs of cottages. Matheran is a perfect getaway from the high-on-steroid urban lifestyles.

To give a push to the rural economy, the Ministry of Tourism announced the competition to choose the best village in the tourism category, based on a set of parameters. The last date for online application submission is April 15. Details here.

In Kalpathy, in Palakkad district, there is history to be had at every sit-out that runs in the front of the traditional homes built around the many temples.

Two young men who surrendered to the Chhattisgarh government after working at Maoist camps, find new life at a Special Task Force camp that has been converted into a resort by the tourism department. Next time you visit Bastar, try and stay at this resort located just five kilometres away from the picturesque Chitrakote waterfalls.

Karnataka’s rural libraries are a gateway to several opportunities. As many as 5,573 village panchayat libraries have sprung up across the state, with more than 3.5 million children registered with these centres. These free libraries are opening the doors to a better life for young people from economically weaker backgrounds.

The Union environment ministry has approached the apex court to replace Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority with a monitoring committee. Local people and environmentalists allege such a move would open the ecologically fragile Dahanu region to plunder