Young stargazer puts Maha tribal village on astro-tourism map
Nashik: In a remote corner of Surgana taluka, a tribal youth named Vipul Khiradi believes that prosperity lies in preserving the darkness of the night sky. While many young people leave their villages in search of brighter futures, Vipul sees potential in turning his native village, Udmal, into Maharashtra's first Dark Sky Community.
At just 14 years old, Vipul's fascination with stargazing began when he attended a program organized by AstronEra, a Pune-based organization. This experience sparked his interest in astronomy and eventually led him to become a physics student and advocate for responsible tourism in his village. With the support of AstronEra, local administration, and government funding, Udmal is transforming into a dark sky destination, attracting tourists who wish to observe the night sky free from light pollution.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
