On a warm afternoon, we drove out in a jeep from Pench Tree Lodge towards a nearby village. Sukhtara is a small village in Madhya Pradesh, approximately 17 kilometres from the property. It is the spot for a weekly village market or haat. Residents from neighbouring villages/hamlets come and sell products here. These range from food (vegetables, fruits, sweets) to every day objects like aluminium utensils, jewellery, clothes and footwear.
While we were evidently ‘city-people’, I tried to interact and converse with whomever possible. At the end of the visit, I realised that perhaps many of them hadn’t interacted with travellers previously and hence the resistance.
I was interested in buying a pair of earrings but unfortunately they didn’t fit me. The design and engraving on the silver jewellery were traditional and impressive. Apart from that, I didn’t find anything that caught my eye. Though the experience was worth the visit.
Read: My First Stay in a Tree House
Read: Photo Story: The Camera-Friendly Locals of Rancha, Madhya Pradesh
Have you visited a village haat?
Note: This village visit was made possible by Pugdundee Safaris.
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Amrita Das
I have been a travel and culture independent journalist. My bylines have appeared in many publications worldwide including National Geographic Traveller India, Lonely Planet Magazine India, The Indian Express and World Travel Magazine. A fellow of Media Ambassadors India-Germany 2019 program by Robert Bosch Stiftung and Centre for Media Competence, University of Tübingen. Currently, I am the photo editor for RoundGlass Sustain, a wildlife and conservation e-publication. I live in India.
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This reminds me of the Devlali Sunday Bazaar from a decade ago !!!
You should visit it soon, when possible in which case. Village haats are fabulous.
Local markets. No better place to feel like a doe behind floodlights :P
Hahaha! How articulate, yes that would be very appropriate. :D
Love visiting local markets as they give you a brilliant insight into local life! Love the clumps of colorful bangles!
Yup and the local market prices. I really wanted to buy silver jewellery and the bangles. Not in my favour :(
There are always stories around these huts and I always get a diff feeling when around them .
Oh there is so much to photograph, provided we can blend in :P