Bhatoli – Corn Village of India

The corn village of Bhatoli is very near Mussoorie and one can reach here by road easily. A perfect day trip with family or alone, the minute you set foot in this village, you will be amazed at how colourful and clean it is. The houses are painted in bright hues but what strikes the eyes immediately is the rows are rows of ripe corn hanging from these houses. The brilliant yellow of the corn against the colourful exterior of these houses and the lush greenery all around, especially during the monsoons, paints a picture one cannot easily forget. This is only made more vivid by the boldly coloured sarees that the women of this village wear.

Being the primary bread winners (something we regularly seem to find in traditional mountain villages), the women are everywhere, going about their daily tasks. Chances are, you will also be called into one of the homes by them and invited to lunch with them. The houses are made of wood, a produce of the mountains, with very low doors to deter thieves from entering. The doors are ornately crafted and look hundreds of years old. Although most locals are now turning to pucca houses made of brick and mortar, nothing can replace the old-worldly charm of these traditional houses. As you sit inside one of the houses marvelling at it, you will be served the staple meal of makke ki roti (corn flour bread) and walnut chutney. The meal is simple and delicious and it is easy to see that corn is the staple crop here.

Lines of step-farms lie beyond the houses and post-harvest, they are used in various forms. The ripe corns are hung outside the homes to dry, so they can be ground into flour. This is also considered a status symbol as more the amount of corn displayed, the wealthier the family is supposed to be.

The village is a small one, with limited residents and houses. However, the experience is a delightful one. As you navigate through the spotlessly clean streets of the village and imbibe the simple and laid-back vibe, you will realise that the mountains are really what our hectic lives need. Taking kids along on this day trip is also a great life lesson for them without the hassle of an arduous journey. Take loads of pictures against the vibrant background and create memories of a place that is seemingly lost in time.

Our client, Chetan Panchal, had this to say about his experience to Bhatoli :

Wanting the kids to step out of the luxuries of the Marriot – Mussorie we decided to visit the Bhatoli village which is 22 km away from the hotel.

The kids were apprehensive about the experience but once we entered the village, the warmth of the simple life and the hospitality of our hosts swept us away and we felt like we were coming home from a vacation.

Unwind Outdoor once again had organised this experience for us, and we thank him and our hosts for letting us into their homes and for cooking a meal for us.

The villagers of Bhatoli decorate their homes with ripe corn. It is also a status symbol. The corn is kept out for drying and for making their staple diet which is makki ki roti and salt chutney.

Naturally we had to take some photos their as the setting and the light was just perfect to smile and click

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Absolute Networks, Mumbai

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Friends from SriLanka

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Symbiosis Law School, Mumbai

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Singapore

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Assistant Director, Jurong Town Corporation, Singapore

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