From Grass to Glory: How Uttarakhand’s Women Built a Village of Dreams

The women of the hills — who didn’t just carry dreams on their heads, but on their backs.

The mornings in Matholi village of Uttarakhand are no longer what they used to be.Earlier, when the first rays of the sun touched the mountains, women would step out carrying bundles of grass on their heads, heading towards the fields. Now, those same women step out — not with grass on their heads, but with trekking bags on their backs.Because now, they’re not just responsible for their homes — they’ve become the identity of the entire village.

This is the story of Matholi village and those women who redefined what it means to be a “housewife.”

A Change That Began with One Thought

At the root of this transformation is Pradeep Panwar, a resident of the same village. For many years, Deep worked in the field of tourism — exploring new destinations, guiding travelers, and introducing people to the mysteries of the mountains.But when the COVID lockdowns forced him to return to his village, one question struck him:

“Why not connect our own village with tourism?”

That single thought changed the destiny of Matholi village.

Pradeep saw an old cowshed — its roof broken, walls crumbling, and silence echoing through it. But in that silence, he heard an opportunity.
He transformed that cowshed into a Homestay, and named it

“Women’s Village Homestay.”

Slowly, women from the village began joining him. In the beginning, many were doubtful —

“Can we really do this?”
“Who would even come to our village?”

But Pradeep always had one answer —

“Just take the first step; the mountain will carve the path itself.”

From Struggle to Confidence

Most men from the village had moved to cities in search of work. The women left behind — who had only managed households till then — became guides, cooks, hosts, and role models of motivation. They began connecting tourists to the real soul of the village. They took them on treks, taught them camping, and cooked traditional mountain food with their own hands. The same women who once hesitated to speak in front of others now confidently converse with travelers from across India and abroad.

The beginning wasn’t easy —There was no training, no resources, and no prior experience. But like every new beginning, there was struggle — and after struggle came self-confidence.

These women learned on their own — how to run a homestay, how to welcome guests, and how to present themselves professionally in the world of tourism.
Today, those same women train and empower women from other villages.“Women’s Village” is not just a place — it’s a mindset. It proves that the women of the hills were not made only to carry loads — they can carry dreams too. This initiative gave them not only financial independence, but also self-respect.
Now, they work not just for their families — but for the progress of the entire village.

Finding Success Without Leaving Home

Today, while most people leave their villages in search of success, the women of Matholi are writing stories of success while staying in their own village. Their smiles, their confidence, and their hard work remind every traveler —“Dreams don’t belong to cities; they belong to those who dare to dream.”

Conclusion

The women of Matholi village have proven —that if one Deep shows the way,a thousand lamps can light themselves.

These women have given the mountains a new height —Where once they carried bundles of grass on their heads,Now they carry the weight of dreams —
and the fragrance of those dreams is spreading across all of India.