It was established in 1982 by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and was adopted by UNESCO during its 22nd General Conference.

Every year, ICOMOS proposes a theme to help organise the activities; this year the theme is ‘heritage changes’.

In keeping with the various points being considered under the theme this year, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has decided to focus on a range of royal homestays, thus focusing on the people and their work towards preserving the ancient culture of the state.

These royal stays help guests understand the historical background of the accommodation and the destination, and their specialties.

One of the key features of the Royal Hospitality programme is a meeting between the royal hosts and the guests.

Some of the royal homestays which you may explore in the state are :

Fort Baroda Homestay, Sheopur – By road, Sheopur is about 210km from Gwalior and 120km from Shivpuri.

Krishnayan Homestay, Gwalior – Tucked away in Madhya Pradesh’s historic and commercial centre, this royal haveli was built in 1920.

Kila, the heritage palace, Satna – If you are travelling through Satna, then you may stop for a night or two at this homestay, which is about 20km away by road from town.

Maihar Heritage Palace, Maihar – This historic town is steeped in legend and musical heritage. The presiding deity is goddess Sharda, an incarnation of Durga. This was the place where (late) Ustad Allauddin Khan, doyen of Indian classical music and an expert sarod player lived and pursued his vocation.