In the foothills of the Himalayas in Bandipora in northern Kashmir lies a small village of a few hundred households. This hamlet, Aragam, is now also known as book village. It has a network of libraries through which the community here is positioning itself as a tourist attraction.
Book cafes carved out in the old timber-framed houses has become the new signature of this village. While there is a central library, small libraries have been set up in over a dozen houses. They not only help local children engage with the written word organically and independently but have also turned into a creative learning space for visitors.
At any given time, a teenager can be seen buried in a book, be it of classical poetry or a suspenseful thriller.
The village has become a sanctuary for the curious. The walls of the houses are painted with vibrant murals, and the shelves of wood and stone make the act of reading feel warm and special in the ambience of mountains.
Children act as impromptu guides in Aragam and books as icebreakers; the real story is the hospitality of a people who have decided that their legacy will be written in ink and memory.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
Quiet corner: Students read inside a school library, one of several learning spaces set up across the village.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
On a book run: Women with a pile of much-loved books walk through the village of Aragam in northern Kashmir.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
Along the lane: Aragam, in Bandipora district, is about 65 km from Srinagar
Photo:
Imran Nissar
Village of words: Kashmir’s book village is known for its network of community libraries.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
Stories in hand: Reading spaces have become a part of daily life in the village.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
Reading hour: A villager peruses a book inside a home library, as residents open their houses to both books and visitors.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
By the lake: A man walks along the banks of Wular Lake near Aragam. The quiet hills and scenery draw the peace-loving tourist to the spot.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
Off the beaten track: The quaint hamlet, with its winding lanes, is slowly making a name for itself as an off-beat destination for those with literary inclinations.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
In steady hands: A man carries books across a stream, showing the village’s growing culture of reading in nooks and corners.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
After the bell: Students play in a school, as learning extends beyond classrooms into shared community spaces.
Published – March 22, 2026 08:34 am IST
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