Nestled deep within the mountains of Uttarakhand, Bangar is a village in the Pauri Garhwal district. This settlement was founded decades ago by those fleeing from the tyranny of mugahal invaders and has sustained till date thus becoming the hamlet it is today.
Absence of motorable roads has resulted in it becoming predominantly self-reliant community that has held on to its roots despite the concurrent era of rapid urbanization. As a result, no economic need has been generated which otherwise would have led to consequent modernization of the village. However, slowly the effects of urbanization have started showing up in this village as well.
With the young seeking out job opportunities in the city and the lack of educational institutions in close vicinity, the grey hair is afraid that their once bustling village may soon be estranged from those that give it its identity. This exact make and break situation that the village has found itself in is exactly what made it an intriguing site that is in desperate need of an economy booster. The main idea of the tourist center was to showcase banagar, and its culture to the world outside thus creating job opportunities and generating revenue which would encourage the younger generation to tap into what their village and its history has to offer instead of moving into the cities and abandoning it. The village is rich with medicinal herbs who’s uses and recipes have been passed down from generation to generation. One of the most important parts of this program is the workshop and apothecary kitchen that can help the villagers reap profit from these medicinal practices and techniques along with sharing them with the rest of the world. Addinaly the tourists center also offers performance spaces and a library/ classroom which encourage the exchange of knowledge and stories within the tourists and the villagers thus encouraging the young generation to understand the beauty of the village and what it has to offer to them.