A verdant, tropical state of winding rivers, crescent beaches, dense jungles and spice-scented tea plantations, Kerala is a far cry from the frenzied cities of northern India. Beyond its natural beauty, Kerala is also known for its laid-back atmosphere and open and hospitable culture -- a fact that makes rural and cultural tourism especially rewarding in this part of the country. In January 2014, the state tourism board was awarded the United Nations World Tourism Organisation's Award for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism, recognizing Kerala's pioneering work in responsible cultural tourism that benefits both visitors and locals. Among these laudable efforts are rural tourism initiatives in four pilot locations.
Conveniently close to the state capital's transportation network -- 6 miles from the Thiruvananthapuram airport and 10 miles from the train station -- Kovalam is probably the most established tourist destination in the state. Its pristine beaches are beacons both for the backpacker and resort crowds, but a new initiative dubbed "Beyond the Beach" aims to take travelers into the area's rural hinterland. Groups meet at the Tourist Information Center in Kovalam at 9 a.m. and depart for a day-long adventure in rural villages inland including visits to a Krishna temple, a local school and female handicraft cooperatives, in addition to farm tours, demonstrations of traditional fishing practices, martial arts shows, a traditional home-cooked meal and a stop at a local market. Visitors pay a fixed fee for the day trip that covers transportation, food, guide costs and a donation to local communities. The group returns to Kovalam at 6 p.m.
In the northeast of the state, the village of Thekkady is located among rolling green hills where the breeze is infused with the scent of pepper, tea and cardamom. Thekkady is in the middle of a remote and extremely biodiverse area about eight hours by road from the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram. Visitors can stop by the local office of the state tourism office to book a spot on the "Spice-Scented Village Life" tour. The adventure is -- delectably -- heavy on food, including a demonstration of local pappadam snack preparation, sampling pepper and nutmeg pickles, tasting fresh local honey and sitting down to a home-cooked meal in a village. The trip also includes a tour of a cardamom plantation and a scenic trip through the hills, ending in the late afternoon with a local Paliyakoothu presentation of tribal plays and songs in Thekkady. Visitors pay a flat fee for the day trip.
The southern district of Wayanad is known for its especially well-preserved wilderness and multicultural tribal life. The town of Kalpetta is 70 miles from the Kozhikode airport, and it's the place to book the "Road to Fragrant Hill" tour at the local state tourism office. The trip takes visitors to the cooperative cardamom plantation of Sugandhagiri and includes a visit to a crafts center, local kindergarten and sacred grove, as well as visits to rural tribal homes and demonstrations of local agricultural practices. For a fixed fee, the program lasts from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and includes lunch and refreshments.
Kumarakom is an idyllic village set on a cluster of islands on Vembanad Lake. The area is 60 miles from Cochin International Airport and home to the state tourism office's most successful responsible rural tourism project. With an integral approach, the project has not only set up tours of rural areas, but linked rural farmers with local resorts and hotels to increase demand for local produce, handicrafts and cultural products. The "Day With Farmers" trip offered by the local tourism office -- a regional model -- is structured as a day trip to maximize benefits for the stakeholder communities while reducing logistical burden and costs like lodging construction that rural communities could scarcely afford. The trip runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and takes visitors on a beautifully scenic autorickshaw ride between rice fields and coconut orchards to visit village homes and vegetable and fish farms. Farmers demonstrate local husbandry, agricultural, craft, and fish-farming techniques and invite tourists into their homes to eat deliciously fresh fish grilled on plantain leaves. Tourists pay a fixed fee for the trip, and local farmers participate both in the planning and the profits.
The Kerala state tourism office has been recognized by the UN for its effective and safe operation of rural tourism trips with verifiable benefits for the communities visited. Several other operators in Kerala offer trips to rural communities in the state and, while many are reputable and the vast majority well-intentioned, some skepticism is always prudent. Socially responsible tourism begins with a commitment by travelers to diligently investigate their travel options. Visitors should ask about trip conditions and how the organization interacts with visited communities to make sure they are comfortable taking the trip before booking a package. As with rural travel anywhere, travelers planning on visiting remote areas of Kerala should visit a physician before making the trip for a check-up and to discuss any necessary vaccinations, medications or health precautions. The tourist high season in Kerala and India in general is during the cooler, dryer months between November and mid-February. If not bothered by rain and heat, travelers outside those dates are rewarded with fewer crowds and lower prices.
