Key Takeaways
- Patgaon Village earned the **Best Rural Tourism** bronze award for its sustainable honey‑making project.
- The award was presented by Union Minister **Ajay Bhatt**, highlighting government support for rural tourism.
- Collaboration with **UN World Tourism Organisation** and other agencies will further develop the 35 awarded villages.
Kolhapur: The Patgaon village in the district has been awarded the bronze medal in the ‘Best Rural Tourism Village’ category by the National Rural Tourism Award at the hands of Union Minister of State for Tourism Ajay Bhatt and secretary of Tourism Department V Vidyavati.
The Award ceremony was held on Wednesday at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, and was organised by the Ministry of Tourism.
The award was accepted by Pune Regional deputy director of Tourism Department Shama Pawar, Mahatma Gandhi National Fellow Sandesh Joshi, Patgaon Village Sarpanch Vilas Desai, beekeeper Vasant Raskar.
The Patgaon village, which has been implementing a pilot project of sustainable development, was selected for this competition on the basis of social, natural and economic criteria.
Out of **750+ villages** across all states and Union Territories, **35 villages** were selected for the national‑level award.
Of these, **5 villages** received gold medals, **10 villages** earned silver, and **20 villages** were honored with bronze medals.
These villages will be developed throughout the year in collaboration with United Nations World Tourism Organisation, United Nations Environment Programme, G-20, Union Ministry of Tourism & Union Ministry of Forests. Rural Tourism Institute of India is a national level organisation to develop these 35 villages in the country.
The pure and natural honey produced here is being prepared by five gram panchayats coming together, including Patgaon, and is situated in the lap of Sahyadri ranges.
On behalf of Maharashtra State Khadi and Village Industries Board and the District Planning Committee, the initiative ‘Madhache Gaon Patgaon’ (Village of Honey means Patgaon) is being implemented in Patgaon and efforts are being made to make these villages self-sufficient.
