India is set to get its first officially recognised Dark Sky Community, and it's not in a big city or a famous tourist spot. It’s a small tribal village in Maharashtra’s Nashik district.
Udhamal, located in Surgana taluka, is working towards becoming India’s first Dark Sky Community. This is a huge advantage of the village. It’s totally free of artificial light and that makes the night sky much better.
We want to preserve the village’s natural darkness and promote astronomy, education and responsible tourism in the process.
Nashik district administration has approved Rs 42.14 lakh for the project under the District Annual Tribal Sub Plan for 2026 to 2027. The money will be used to make night sky assessments, better outdoor lighting, awareness programmes and training for local young people.
Udhamal's progress towards Dark Sky status also has strong support from the local community. In May 2025, the village Gram Sabha passed a Dark Sky Resolution under PESA. More than 232 residents supported the resolution.
The small tribal village could be given a completely new identity to protect and restore its natural environment with this project.
Why Udhamal is perfect for Stargazing?
A Dark Sky Community is a community that is dedicated to preventing and protecting the natural night sky from being distracted by a lot of artificial light.
Light pollution is a major problem in cities. Bright streetlights, buildings, advertisements, and cars make the night sky much brighter. So the people living in large cities often see only a few stars.
Udhamal has a very different environment.
The Kokna tribal village is located in a relatively remote area without serious urban development nearby. That gives it naturally dark skies that are suitable for watching stars and other objects in space.
The village would like to protect this advantage rather than have unnecessary artificial lighting increase over time.
The project will encourage the use of better outdoor lighting that reduces light pollution. Local officials will also conduct awareness programmes so that local residents understand why protecting the dark sky matters.
The initiative is not limited to tourism. It also has an educational element.
Young people and school students will be trained in astronomy and the night sky. And it could also open up new opportunities for young people to work as local guides and get involved in astronomy-based tourism.
Visitors can come to Udhamal to see the stars, learn astronomy and feel the quietness of a tribal village.
This might give the local community an additional source of income without any major changes to the village.
The Dark Sky project could also help people understand the effects of excessive artificial lighting. Too much artificial light can affect the visibility of stars and may also disturb nocturnal wildlife.
So protecting naturally dark areas is good for both astronomy and the environment.
From Tribal Village to Astro Tourism Destination
The Nashik district administration sees the project as an opportunity to develop astro tourism in the region.
Nashik already draws tourists for its vineyards, religious sites, forts and natural landscapes. A Dark Sky Community could give travellers another reason to explore the less developed parts of the district.
Citizens of cities live in the dark, and an evening in the night sky is very different for them. Not only do people have to look at tall buildings and streetlights, but they also have to look at stars and learn about the universe.
Udhamal’s development should be responsible, too. The village cannot lose its peaceful environment because of excessive tourism.
The idea behind the project is to create tourism while protecting the very feature that makes the village special.
DarkSky International has confirmed Udhamal meets the eligibility requirements for its Dark Sky Community programme. The village is now in the certification process.
It is also important to understand the terminology. Some reports call Udhamal India's first Dark Sky Village. The formal designation is a Dark Sky Community certification from DarkSky International.
India already has a well-known dark sky destination in Hanle, Ladakh. Hanle is part of India’s first Dark Sky Reserve and is known for astronomy and stargazing.
Udhamal would be different because it is a community-based village initiative. Residents are directly involved in protecting the night sky and developing the project.
It’s all something that may also encourage other rural communities in the future to protect their own dark skies.
When cities become bright, the places with natural dark skies become more valuable. They are great places to study astronomy, nature conservation and sustainable tourism.
The project will bring new opportunities for Udhamal, and the village will still retain its traditional character. If the certification process is successful, Udhamal will be able to be a model among other Indian villages looking to do a successful certification process, in which Udhamal can become an example for other Indian villages that want to reconcile conservation, education, and tourism by combining conservation, education, and tourism.
One small tribal hamlet in Nashik, for the moment, is preparing itself to put itself on the map for something most modern cities have lost sight of. And for travellers looking for something different, Udhamal could soon become a place where the biggest attraction is simply looking up.
