IIn the foothills of the Himalayas, Bandipora in northern Kashmir lies a small village of a few hundred households. This Aragam village is now also known as the book village. It has a network of libraries through which the local community is positioned as a tourist attraction.
Book cafes carved out of old wooden houses have become the new signature of this village. While there is a central library, small libraries have been set up in more than a dozen homes. Not only do they help local children organically and independently engage with the written word, but they have also been transformed into a creative learning space for visitors.
At any moment, a teenager can be seen buried in a book, be it a classic poetry or a suspenseful thriller.
The village became a haven for the curious. The walls of the houses are painted with bright murals, and the shelves made of wood and stone give the act of reading a warm and special feeling in the mountain environment.
Children act as impromptu guides in Aragamo and books as icebreakers; the real story is the hospitality of the people who chose to have their legacy written in ink and memory.
Photo: Imran Nissar
Quiet Corner: Students read in the school library, one of several study spaces set up throughout the village.
Photo: Imran Nissar
On a book run: Women walk through the village of Aragam in north Kashmir with piles of much-loved books.
Photo: Imran Nissar
Along the way: 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 part of everyday life in the village.
Photo: Imran Nissar
Reading Hour: A villager checks out a book in the home library while residents open their homes to books and visitors.
Photo: Imran Nissar
By the Lake: A man walks along the shores of Lake Wular near Aragam. The quiet hills and scenery attract peaceful tourists to the place.
Photo: Imran Nissar
Off the beaten path: The picturesque village with its winding streets is slowly making a name for itself as an unconventional destination for those with a literary bent.
Photo: Imran Nissar
In Steady Hands: A man carries books across a stream, showing the growing village culture of reading in nooks and crannies.
Photo: Imran Nissar
After the bell: Students play at school as learning moves beyond classrooms into shared community spaces.
Published – 22 March 2026 08:34 IST
