Fri May 23 13:51:19 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summary of the provided text, in the style of The Hindu:

**Headline: Andhra Pradesh Promotes Heritage Homestays to Boost Rural Tourism**

**KALLA (WEST GODAVARI), May 23, 2025** – The Andhra Pradesh Department of Tourism is actively encouraging owners of traditional ‘Manduva’ houses to convert them into homestays, aiming to preserve the region’s cultural heritage and stimulate rural tourism.

Special Chief Secretary to Housing and Tourism Ajay Jain visited several ‘Manduva’ houses in the West Godavari district on Thursday, including the Kopella Manthena heritage home in Kalla village, which already operates as a homestay. The Godavari region is renowned for these distinctive architectural structures, typically found in rural areas and coconut groves.

“Many of these Manduva houses have been abandoned by families who have settled abroad,” Mr. Jain stated. “A large number of them qualify as heritage houses, and we are working to convince owners to convert them into homestays.”

The initiative is expected to attract tourists to the region, generating employment opportunities for local communities and revitalizing interest in Andhra Pradesh’s unique architectural history.

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