Kerala Tourism: Thirunelli and Chekadi Trails of Responsible Tourism Mission Launched

PC Vishnunadh said the project has been implemented with the vision of enabling visitors to directly experience the rural life and unique culture of Wayanad. He said that the initiative aims at creating a responsible tourism culture without disturbing the local life and unique culture of the people of Wayanad.
Through the Wayanad-Thirunelli Trail, visitors will get to experience a combination of nature and culture, along with tribal culture, an understanding of the forest, and a visit to the Thirunelli Temple. After visiting the Thirunelli Temple, the trail proceeds to Nettara village, which is known for its scenic rural beauty. Visitors can enter the shallow river there, enjoy the natural beauty and walk along the paddy fields. From there, the journey continues to a traditional Wayanad house, around 150 years old, with a thatched roof. The trail then takes visitors to Unniyettan’s shop to buy and taste Unniyappam, followed by a visit to a coffee plantation, before returning to Kalpetta.
The Chekadi package offers an opportunity to experience village life surrounded by lush green paddy fields, along with the aroma and traditions of Wayanad coffee. It has been designed to enable visitors to experience the entire process of coffee production, from cultivation to harvesting, drying, grinding and making coffee powder. The package also includes Chekadi village life, a journey through paddy fields where traditional varieties such as Jeerakasala and Gandhakasala are cultivated, and cultural performances associated with the region’s unique tribal culture. The package also offers a rare opportunity to visit the bus stop made famous through the film Balan, as well as to learn closely about the agricultural traditions and biodiversity conservation practices of Padma Shri Cheruvayal Raman, the custodian of traditional paddy seeds.
Kerala RT Mission CEO K. Rupesh Kumar said that the new ‘Life Experience Trails’ package has been launched with a focus on responsible tourism and with the aim of enabling visitors to directly experience the lives and livelihoods of local communities and traditional art forms through sustainable tourism activities. He said that the package offers extensive experiences by bringing together the diverse possibilities of rural life in Wayanad and integrating food diversity, art forms and traditional occupational sectors.
Facilities to book the trails for visitors and tour operators are available on the official website of the Responsible Tourism Mission