Pustakanch Gaav: India’s first ‘Village of Books’ spreading the joy of reading

Satara: A village once popular for the cultivation of strawberries is now gaining recognition as India’s first village of books. Bhilar, a village situated in Satara, Maharashtra draws attention of international visitors and has welcomed countless tourists from both India and abroad. The initiative was launched by former Education Minister Vinod Tawde, which has given the village a fresh identity. 

A book lover's paradise

UK's Hay-on-Wye is recognized as the world's first town of books. Inspired by this, the former Education Minister introduced the concept of a book village. The village community works like a close-knit family. The libraries open at seven in the morning and remain open until evening. A diverse range of visitors, including elders, children, teachers, flock to the village to immerse themselves into the mesmerising world of books. Visitors from across the world explore the village with much enthusiasm. The local residents work efficiently and provide information about the collection of books within minutes. 

A huge collection of books

The libraries are located in 25 different spots in the village. These libraries cover various subjects, boasting over 35,000 books, including children's literature, novels, biographies, environmental studies, history, art books, and picture books. Moreover, comic books, newspapers, and magazines are also available. For the past eight years, villagers have been actively working to preserve the Marathi language. Tourists can find a wide range of Marathi books here. 

Pustakanch Gaav

This special library, locally known as Pustakanch Gaav, opened on May 4, 2017. Approximately, around 100-200 tourists visit the libraries daily. Till date, 14 to 15 lakh people have visited this village of books, highlighting the importance of reading books.

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