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{{Use Indian English|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Bhoodan Pochampally
| image_skyline = Bhoodan pochampally.jpg
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = [[Census Town]]
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Telangana#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Telangana, India
| coordinates = {{coord|17.3461|78.8122|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Telangana]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts in India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district|Bhuvanagiri]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes = <ref name=census>{{cite web|title=District Census Handbook - Nalgonda|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/27681/download/30850/DH_28_2001_NAL.pdf|website=Census of India|accessdate=11 February 2016|page=13,248}}</ref>
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 28.42
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1184
| population_total = 12972
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes = <ref name="census" />
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|Postal PIN Code]]
| postal_code = 508284
| area_code = +91 8685
| registration_plate = TS 30
| website = {{URL|telangana.gov.in}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''Bhoodan Pochampally''' is a [[census town]] in the [[Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district]] of the [[Indian state]] of [[Telangana]]. It is located in Pochampalle [[mandal]] of [[Bhongir]] division.<ref name="census" /> This village is Known for woven products, especially hand-woven Ikkat [[Sari|sarees]]. There are thousands of looms in the village that produce large quantities of sarees. In 2004, Pochampalli saree also received a geographical indication (GI) tag.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Application Details |url=https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublic/Application/Details/4 |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=search.ipindia.gov.in}}</ref> This village was one of the three nominated under the category of best tourism villages by the [[United Nations World Tourism Organization]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1772314|title = Pochampally village in Telangana selected as one of the best Tourism Villages by United Nations World Tourism Organisation}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|Bhoodan movement}}{{Tone|date=November 2020}}[[File:Nalgonda mandals Pochampalli pre 2016.png|thumb|Pochampally highlighted on Nalgonda Map.]]

On 18 April 1951, the historic day of the very genesis of the [[Bhoodan movement]], [[Vinoba Bhave]] entered the Pochampally Mandal in Nalgonda district, the center of Communist activity. The organizers had arranged Vinoba's stay at Pochampally, a large village with about 700 families, of whom two-third were landless. It is widely recognised as the birthplace of the Bhoodan (land-gift) movement and as a major centre of ikat weaving, often referred to as the “silk city of India”.<ref name="TOISitharaman">{{Cite news |title=Nirmala Sitharaman opts for white and magenta saree for Budget 2024 presentation |date=23 July 2024 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/nirmala-sitharaman-opts-for-white-and-magenta-saree-for-budget-2024-presentation/articleshow/111945427.cms
|work=The Times of India |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1999, the weaving industry of Bhoodan Pochampally came to limelight when a young weaver [[Chintakindi Mallesham|Chithakindhi Mallesham]] developed a machine for automating the time-consuming, laborious and painful ''Asu'' process of winding of yarn before the dyeing and weaving is done. The innovation was recognized by National Innovation Foundation – India.<ref>[http://5award.nif.org.in/doc_file/Mallesham%20nov%2012.doc Recognition of Asu Machine by National Innovation Foundation] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603151626/http://5award.nif.org.in/doc_file/Mallesham%20nov%2012.doc |date=3 June 2012 }}</ref>

== Location and overview ==
Bhoodan Pochampally lies roughly 40–50 km from Hyderabad, in the eastern part of Telangana. It functions as a weaving and tourism hub for a wider cluster of surrounding villages that specialise in hand-woven ikat textiles.<ref name="HansAfrican">{{Cite news |title=African beauties take a peek into Pochampally handloom artistry |date=16 May 2025 |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/african-beauties-take-a-peek-into-pochampally-handloom-artistry-971561 |work=The Hans India |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

The name “Bhoodan Pochampally” refers to its association with the 1951 land-gift initiative led by Acharya Vinoba Bhave, while “Pochampally Ikat” refers to the local resist-dyed weaving tradition.
<ref name="IASNote">{{Cite news |title=Pochampally is One of the Best Tourism Villages: UNWTO |date=17 November 2021 |url=https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pochampally-best-tourism-village|work=Drishti IAS |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

== Bhoodan movement ==

On 18 April 1951, local landlord [[V. Ramachandra Reddy]] donated 100 acres of land following [[Vinoba Bhave]] appeal to support landless families, marking the beginning of the [[Bhoodan movement]].<ref name="Hans75">{{Cite news |title=Pochampally to celebrate 75 years of Bhoodan movement |date=2025 |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/pochampally-to-celebrate-75-years-of-bhoodan-movement-963742
|work=The Hans India |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="TOIPostal">{{Cite news |title=Special postal cover on first donor of Bhoodan Movement at Pochampalli in Telangana |date=17 July 2022 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/special-postal-cover-on-first-donor-of-bhoodan-movement-at-pochampalli-in-telangana/articleshow/92939322.cms
|work=The Times of India |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

Accounts identify the Pochampally donation as the spark that led to millions of acres being pledged voluntarily across India.<ref name="DeccanReddy">{{Cite news |title=Remembering the man behind Bhoodan Movement: Vedire Ramachandra Reddy |date=14 August 2021 |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/featured/140821/remembering-the-man-behind-bhoodan-movement-vedire-ramachandra-reddy.html |work=Deccan Chronicle |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==Handloom and Pochampally Ikat==
Pochampally and surrounding villages are known for ikat textiles created using resist-dyed yarns woven into geometric and curvilinear patterns.<ref name="HansAfrican" />The textile is legally protected under the Geographical Indications Registry, Application No. 4 (registered 31 December 2004).
<ref name="GIRegistry">{{Cite news |title=Pochampally Ikat – GI Application Details (No. 4) |date=31 December 2004 |url=https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublic/Application/Details/4|work=Intellectual Property India |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

Media and government reports note that the weaving cluster spans dozens of villages and remains a major handloom centre.
<ref name="HinduUNWTO">{{Cite news |title=Pochampally village awarded ‘Best World Tourism Village’ tag by UNWTO |date=21 November 2021|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/pochampally-village-awarded-best-world-tourism-village-tag-by-unwto/article37603914.ece
|work=The Hindu |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==UNWTO ‘Best Tourism Village’ recognition==
In 2021, Pochampally was shortlisted by India’s Ministry of Tourism for the UNWTO “Best Tourism Village” initiative.<ref name="NIEShortlist">{{Cite news |title=Pochampally makes it to UN’s ‘best tourism village’ shortlist |date=13 September 2021 |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2021/Sep/13/pochampally-makes-it-to-uns-best-tourism-village-shortlist-2357888.html
|work=The New Indian Express |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref> Later that year, Pochampally was officially recognised as one of the Best Tourism Villages at the UNWTO General Assembly in Madrid.<ref name="PIBUNWTO">{{Cite news |title=Pochampally selected as one of the best Tourism Villages by UNWTO |date=16 November 2021 |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1772314|work=Press Information Bureau |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="TOIUNWTO">{{Cite news |title=Telangana's Pochampally, India’s silk city, is world’s best tourism village |date=2021 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/pochampally-indias-silk-city-is-worlds-best-tourism-village/articleshow/87746860.cms
|work=The Times of India |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==Tourism and “Tourism 2.0” initiatives==
A 2025 tourism policy identifies Pochampally as one of nine priority destinations, with planned experiences such as weaving-street tours, interactive weaving rooms, and a Bhoodan Museum.<ref name="TNIEPolicy">{{Cite news |title=Telangana to unveil new tourism policy |date=26 September 2025 |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2025/Sep/26/telangana-to-unveil-new-tourism-policy
|work=The New Indian Express |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==Miss World 2025 visits==
In 2025, 22 contestants from African countries visited Bhoodan Pochampally as part of the Miss World programme, observing ikat weaving and cultural events.<ref name="AIRMissWorld">{{Cite news |title=22 African Miss World contestants visit Telangana Tourism Park |date=16 May 2025 |url=https://www.newsonair.gov.in/22-african-miss-world-contestants-visit-telangana-tourism-park/
|work=News On AIR |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="HinduMissWorld">{{Cite news |title=Miss World 2025 contestants soak in Telangana’s cultural tapestry at Bhoodan Pochampally |date=2025 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/miss-world-2025-contestants-soak-in-telanganas-cultural-tapestry-at-bhoodan-pochampally/article69580348.ece
|work=The Hindu |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="TNIEWeavesWarmth">{{Cite news |title=Weaves and warmth: Telangana rolls out vibrant welcome for Miss World contestants |date=16 May 2025 |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2025/May/16/weaves-and-warmth-telangana-rolls-out-vibrant-welcome-for-miss-world-contestants
|work=The New Indian Express |access-date=7 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Bhoodan Pochampally remains significant for its dual heritage of Gandhian land-reform history and handloom excellence. Its recognition by the UNWTO, major tourism initiatives, and frequent presence in national and international cultural events continue to reinforce its importance.
<ref name="PIBUNWTO" /><ref name="TNIEPolicy" /><ref name="AIRMissWorld" />

==See also==
* [[Pochampally Saree]]
* [[Bhoodan Movement]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUGDFPxNVq0 Special Story On Bhoodan Pochampally Village | UNWTO Best Tourism Village], V6 News (via youtube), November 2021.

{{Yadadri district}}

[[Category:Mandal headquarters in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district]]

Bhoodan Pochampally - Revision history

ContactBot at 02:33, 21 January 2026