Library village Maniguh

Library Village Initiative

Library Village Maniguh is a pioneering community library initiative in Maniguh village, situated in the Agastyamuni block of Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, India, recognized as the first library village in the state. Located at an altitude of 1,664 meters amid Himalayan peaks including Chaukhamba, Satopanth, and Thalay Sagar, it houses a collection of over 17,000 books covering diverse subjects such as religion, science, literature, history, and competitive exams, available in multiple languages including Hindi, English, Urdu, Sanskrit, Kashmiri, and Punjabi. Established by the Hamara Gaon Ghar Foundation, the facility offers free access to resources, high-tech amenities like computer training, internet, online education, digital content, and basic IT training for children, while also preserving rare books from the Naval kishore Press dating between 1800 and 1905. 

The Library Village initiative was established in the early 2020s to improve access to books and learning resources in remote hill regions. The village library houses more than 20,000 books across literature, school curricula, science, history, competitive examinations, and children’s literature.

Access to the library is free of cost, and it remains open on all working days throughout the year. Books are available in Hindi, English, and regional languages. Several small reading spaces, called “Book Temples,” have also been created in nearby locations to encourage reading habits.

The network of reading spaces, known as Pustak Mandirs or Book Temples, has expanded from the central facility to eight locations, including sites in Pratapnagar, Khamoli, Bandi, and Khalyu, providing open-air reading opportunities across the region 

Educational and Cultural Activities

Community programmes organised in Maniguh include:

* Book Marathon – village-wide reading campaign.

* Pine Needle Craft Workshops – skill development and livelihood training for women.

* Honey Bee Training Workshops – promoting beekeeping as supplementary income.

* Gaon-Ghar Mahotsav – annual cultural festival featuring scholars, poets, theatre artists, dancers, and musicians.

These programmes combine literacy promotion with cultural preservation and sustainable livelihood initiatives.

Community Impact

The Library Village initiative has supported school students, competitive-exam aspirants, and women readers through free educational access. Cultural programmes have strengthened community participation and encouraged interest in local crafts and traditions.

The project has been discussed in library science publications such as All India Library Journal and featured in regional media as an example of community-led rural education infrastructure.

Education Tourism and Homestays

Following recognition as a Library Village, local residents have been encouraged to develop homestay facilities to promote educational tourism. The village’s proximity to the trekking route leading to Kartik Swami Temple has been seen as an opportunity to combine reading culture, cultural tourism, and Himalayan eco-tourism.

At present, Kartik Swami is commonly accessed through the Kanakchauri route, from where pilgrims undertake a short trek to reach the temple. This traditional route may be considered the “Bhakti Marg”, as it primarily serves the devotional pilgrimage of visitors.

However, there exists another lesser-known but extremely beautiful and serene route passing through Library Village Maniguh. This route offers breathtaking views of the Himalayan landscape and passes through peaceful forested and rural areas that represent the authentic cultural life of the region.

Considering the unique identity of Maniguh as a Library Village, this alternative route could be thoughtfully developed as a “Gyan Marg” (Knowledge Path) leading to Kartik Swami. By establishing small reading spots or “Pustak Mandirs” at selected locations along this route, the entire pathway could symbolically represent a journey that integrates knowledge, nature, and spirituality.

Such a concept could create a distinctive knowledge tourism and cultural tourism circuit in the region. Visitors and pilgrims would not only experience the spiritual significance of Kartik Swami but also engage with reading spaces, local literature, and the intellectual traditions of the Himalaya.

The concept envisions Maniguh as a centre where visitors can participate in literary programmes, workshops, and cultural festivals while experiencing village life, thereby supporting local employment and reducing migration.

Technology and Facilities

The village library includes computers for digital literacy training and projectors for smart classes. Recreational activities are also organised to promote holistic learning among children.

Theme Village Concept

The development of Maniguh as a Library Village forms part of a broader concept of “theme villages” in Uttarakhand aimed at combining education, culture, and rural employment. The initiative seeks to reduce migration by creating opportunities in education, crafts, tourism, and community programmes.

News and Media

1.  "उत्तराखंड में बन रहा 'लाइब्रेरी गांव', पुस्तक मंदिर में मिलेंगी ये सुविधाएं" [A 'library village' is being built in Uttarakhand, with these facilities available at the book temple.]. AajTak (in Hindi). 2023-01-02. Retrieved 2026-03-04.

2.  Bharat, E. T. V. (2023-01-22). "Republic Day 2023: Uttarakhand's first theme village library ready for inauguration". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 2026-03-04.

3.  Bharat, E. T. V. (2023-01-27). "Uttarakhand Library Village: रुद्रप्रयाग में उत्तराखंड के पहले 'लाइब्रेरी विलेज' का हुआ उद्घाटन" [Uttarakhand Library Village: Uttarakhand's first 'Library Village' inaugurated in Rudraprayag]. ETV Bharat News (in Hindi). Retrieved 2026-03-04.

4.  "Elevation of Maniguh, Uttarakhand, India - MAPLOGS". Worldwide Elevation Map Finder. Retrieved 2026-03-04.

5.  "उत्तराखंड का मणिगुह : पहाड़ की चोटी पर किताबों वाला गांव, खास हैं पुस्तक मंदिर" [Maniguh in Uttarakhand: A mountaintop village of books, with its special book temple.]. GaonJunction (in Hindi). Retrieved 2026-03-04.

6.  PinCodeArea. "Postal Code: MANIGUH, Post Bhatwari BO (Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand)". PinCodeArea. Retrieved 2026-03-04.

7.  Sharma, Adarsh. "हिमालय की छांव में 17,500 किताबें! उत्तराखंड के इस गांव में सजी है ज्ञान की अनोखी दुनिया; एक बार आइए तो सही" [17,500 books nestled in the shadow of the Himalayas! This village in Uttarakhand is home to a unique world of knowledge; visit once.]. News18 Hindi.

8.  Narson, Dr. Shrigopal (2024-09-13). "देवभूमि उत्तराखंड में है एक अनूठा पुस्कालय गांव!" [There is a unique library village in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand!]. Chanakya Mantra. Retrieved 2026-03-04.

9.  IndiaFilings. "HAMARA GAON GHAR FOUNDATION | CIN U80301UR2022NPL014318 Company Details". IndiaFilings. Retrieved 2026-03-04.

10.  Joshi, Himanshu (2023-04-09). "पुस्तकालय गांवः प्रकृति और किताबों का अनोखा मेल, गांवों की तस्वीर बदलने वाला सफल प्रयोग" [Library Village: A unique combination of nature and books, a successful experiment that changes the picture of villages]. Navjivan (in Hindi). Retrieved 2026-03-04.

11.  Pimoli, Kamal Kishor. "भारत का सबसे अनूठा 'लाइब्रेरी विलेज', 250 परिवार और 17 हजार से ज्यादा किताबें" [India's most unique 'Library Village', 250 families and over 17,000 books]. News18 Hindi.

12.  Bharatvarsh, TV9 (2024-08-08). "पहाड़ में चीड़ के पत्तों से हो रहा कमाल, महिलाएं तैयार कर रही हैं स्पेशल राखी" [Pine leaves are doing wonders in the mountains, women are preparing special Rakhi.]. TV9 Bharatvarsh (in Hindi). Retrieved 2026-03-04.

13.  Bharat, E. T. V. (2023-08-27). "चीड़ की पत्तियों से कमाल कर रही मणिगुह की महिलाएं, बना रही इकोफ्रेंडली राखियां, दूसरे राज्यों में बढ़ी डिमांड" [The women of Maniguh are creating wonders with pine leaves, making eco-friendly rakhis, with demand rising in other states.]. ETV Bharat News (in Hindi). Retrieved 2026-03-04.

14.  Nagar, Akash (2023-05-22). "उत्तराखण्ड में हुआ पहला पुस्तक मैराथन" [First book marathon held in Uttarakhand]. Retrieved 2026-03-04.

15.  Sharma, Adarsh. "बादलों की रजाई ओढ़े हैं उत्तराखंड के ये 5 हसीन ठिकाने! मानसून में दिखते हैं सबसे खूबसूरत.. यहां एक बार आना तो बनता है" [These 5 beautiful places in Uttarakhand are shrouded in clouds! They are at their most beautiful during the monsoon season, and a visit is a must.]. News18 Hindi.

16. https://www.gaonjunction.com/sair-sapata/uttarakhand-rudraprayag-mani-guh-village-of-books-top-of-mountain-book-temple-special

17. https://prernasamvad.in/story/Rudraprayags-daughter-is-making-library-village--4000-books-of-different-subjects-and-languages-are-available-

18. https://www.thesundaypost.in/story-of-uttarakhands-first-library-village/

19. https://www.etvbharat.com/hindi/uttarakhand/state/rudraprayag/uttarakhand-first-library-village-inaugurated-in-rudraprayag/uttarakhand20230127162242692692070

20. https://chanakyamantra.com/2024/09/13/there-is-a-unique-library-village-in-devbhoomi-uttarakhand/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=there-is-a-unique-library-village-in-devbhoomi-uttarakhand

21. https://up18news.com/this-combination-of-nature-and-books-will-change-the-picture-of-the-country/

22. https://www.thesundaypost.in/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95-%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95-%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B0-%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%A6/

23. https://www.thesundaypost.in/reverse-migration-of-daughter-of-uttarakhand/

24. https://panchjanya.com/2023/06/28/286726/bharat/pirul-woman-manju-shah-showing-way-of-self-employment-to-villagers-of-kedarghati/

25. https://www.iaslic1955.org.in/fckeditor/userfiles/file/Jan_Feb%202023%20final.pdf

26. https://journal.ijarms.org/index.php/ijarms/article/download/558/492/501

27. https://namaskarcity.com/the-women-of-the-mountains-were-seen-progressing-from-the-west-to-the-best-wonder-how-they-are-doing-wonders/

28. https://mukhyadhara.in/now-pirul-will-not-light-forest-fire-will-provide-huge-employment/

29. https://india09news.in/?p=1029

30. https://www.thesundaypost.in/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC%E0%A5%80-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2/

31. https://www.etvbharat.com/bengali/west-bengal/bharat/republic-day-2023-uttarakhand-first-theme-village-library-ready-for-inauguration/wb20230122102043982982911

32. https://organiser.org/2023/08/31/193184/bharat/uttarakhands-eco-friendly-pirul-rakhi-economically-empower-women-mesmerises-customers-make-its-way-to-us/