En Ooru Wayanad village is an offbeat destination in the state of Kerala. However, visiting the village will surely be a memorable and lifetime experience for you. The scenic beauty of the village, with its picturesque landscape, green vegetation, and captivating flora, is a super treat to the eyes.
Situated in a remote location, far from the humdrums of city life, the village plays a crucial role in preserving the traditions and cultural heritage of the local Wayanad tribe. You will love interacting with and mingling among the tribal community, becoming acquainted with their habitat, customs, traditions, art, crafts, and means of livelihood. The vast infrastructure of En Ooru Wayanad village, along with its eco-friendly maintenance, is the main contributor to enticing tourists to the village. The village is steadily gaining wide popularity among travelers.
En Ooru Wayanad is Kerala’s first Tribal Heritage Village, highlighting ethnic origin, cultural customs, tribal social organizations, ancestral traditions, tribal art, and cultural expressions. The village’s main attraction is the replica of tribal huts, which provide an insight into the life of the community.
A project worth 10 crores in INR is being carried out by the Departments of Scheduled Tribes Development and Tourism for the village. It will include product stalls, which will eventually introduce the tourists to tribal handicrafts, medicines, and other environment-friendly products. Besides, tribal art forms such as Thudi Thalam, tribal music, and ancestral customs are performed in the village’s amphitheater. To transform the village into a heritage site, the Kerala government is planning to showcase the rural culture and ethnic diversity.
Life in En Ooru Wayanad Tribal Heritage Village
The rich traditions and heritage of the state’s tribal residents are highlighted in En Ooro Wayanad Heritage Village. You can find a group of traditional tribal homes with hay roofs in the village, situated against the backdrop of majestic hills. Situated on a hillock in Pookode, the 25-acre center provides a unique opportunity to learn about the tribal people’s culture and way of life. To improve livelihoods, the village, which is run by tribal communities, offers a tribal market and cafeterias serving ethnic food. On the gorgeous campus, numerous amenities have been built, such as stands offering Trinity crafts, spices, and souvenirs.
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The main objectives of establishing En OOru Wayanad Village
- Develop and preserve the tribal knowledge, art, and architecture for future generations
- Foster the expansion of tribal goods, handicrafts, and medicine to assist in the development of a more powerful community.
- Provide the tribes with extensive training in self-employment and skill development to ensure their independence and reliability.
- Organizing awareness-raising initiatives to ensure the indigenous population’s improved literacy, sanitation, hygiene, and health.
- Many government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and promoter institutions will interact with indigenous communities to secure funding for tribal welfare projects. By supplying funds and other kinds of financial support, Kerala’s tribal population can be urged to develop their skills. Boosting the sustainability of the domestic product markets with assistance and support from the government.
The Tribal Cultural Heritage
The villagers of the En Ooru Wayanad heritage village are working on multiple projects and initiatives with the aim of preserving the cultural heritage and the traditional arts and crafts of the tribal folks. The craftsmen and the artisans of the village create beautiful handcrafted items that speak about the tribe’s cultural heritage.
The crafts include weaving, basketry, and pottery. Besides, the village hosts several cultural events and performances that provide the visitors with an opportunity to be acquainted with the traditional dances, music, and rituals of the community. Furthermore, these meetups and gatherings not only foster a feeling of pride and togetherness but also a medium to showcase the skills and talent of the tribes.
The Tribal Market
The Kerala government has opened a tribal market inside the En Ooru Wayanad tribal village. There are many shops inside the market selling Kambalam, Ambum Villum (bow and arrow), tribal artifacts, and other items related to the community. The farmers residing in the village grow millets. The villagers purchase wild honey and other forest products to sell in the market. The motto is to form a tribal economy by supporting the successful sales of goods at the tribal market. Visitors can purchase food, bamboo, cane, local remedies, and medicinal plants from the market. Local artisans give live demonstrations of their crafts to entice tourists to their booths. It is the best way to interact with people in the community and learn about Adivasis.
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Air Theatre in En Ooru Wayanad Heritage Village
Every tribe in Kerala has a unique style of art. At En Ooru, visitors can see performances of tribal art forms in the outdoor theater. Researchers and tourists can observe and appreciate the various artistic traditions of the Kurichya, Kuruma, Adiya, Hill Pulaya, Aranadan, Irular, Kadar, Kanikkaran, Kattunaykan, Kochuvelan, Koraga, Kurumba, Malai Arayan, Malai Pandaram, Vedan, Mannan, Maratti, Muthuvan, Paniyan, Ulladan, Urali Kuruma, Mala Vettuvan, Then Kurumbam, Mavilan, Cholanayikkan, and Karimpalan tribes. They practice Mavilan Pattu, Thudi Thalam, tribal archery, and other artistic forms. The Open-Air Theatre’s primary objective is to preserve and promote tribal art forms.
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The Tribal Cuisine
The ideal location to learn about tribal life and consume tribal food is En Ooru Wayad village. En Ooru has two outstanding cafeterias that serve authentic tribal food. Forest plants and edible tubers are used for preparing food. The cafeteria serves other Keralan favorites and operates to promote the tribal community’s flavors.
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Tourists have the opportunity to support the locals by buying their regional food in addition to enjoying Wayanad cuisine. Because a community’s cuisine reflects its culture, tourists who desire to learn more about the ethnicity ought to relish the food offered here.
A Park for the Children
When tourists arrive at the Tribal Heritage village, they worry about what to do to keep their kids occupied. A children’s park with a naturally created play area will soon open to entertain the village’s younger guests. Children will be able to experience traditional games and sports as the park is developed. This innovative children’s park will be designed in alignment with the architectural style of the Heritage Village.
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The Heritage Walkway
Wayanad’s culture falls short if tourists are forbidden to admire the sculptures and wall paintings. The government plans to establish a heritage walkway that will demonstrate the architecture, artwork, and sculptures of Kerala’s indigenous tribes in order to offer an in-depth understanding of tribal heritage. By walking along the walkway, visitors can discover more about the history of the area.
Workshop for handmade art and crafts
Tribal tradition and handicrafts are strongly connected. Both the apparel they use and the bamboo items they create for their livelihood are considered artifacts. To teach tourists the fundamentals of tribal crafts, En Ooru Tribal Heritage Village will offer art and craft classes. Live demonstrations of the design and production of traditional handmade products will be entertaining and educational for tourists. The Art and Craft workshop will be beneficial to tourists from all over Kerala and other parts of India.
Tribal Interpretation Center
In order to promote learning and understanding of the tribal tradition, a Tribal Interpretation Center will soon be established in the village. The Center will feature tribal artifacts and architecture. The officials will prepare a historical narrative for each exhibit to convey the history to the visitors. The facility will help students and researchers acquire a precise understanding of the community.
Best Time to Visit En Ooru
En Ooru Wayanad can be explored best at any time of year, except during the monsoons. Kerala is renowned for its June, July, and August monsoons. During this time, the majority of tourist attractions are closed. En Ooru also remains closed, since it is situated atop a hill and is risky during rainstorms. Avoiding very hot summers is also advised. The village can be enjoyed mostly by walking.
Tips for Visiting En Ooru
- To ensure a comfortable and memorable trip to En Ooru Wayanad tribal heritage village, adhere to the guidelines set by the authorities. Only the Pookode Veterinary College bus stop area is available for private vehicle parking. Private vehicles should be parked on NH 766 Road. En Ooru is accessible by car from the Pookode Veterinary College gate. You will be charged $20 for the vehicle facility. In order to preserve En Ooru village’s cultural heritage, less plastic should be used there. Alcohol and other intoxicants are prohibited for visitors while they are in the heritage village. Please dispose of food and leftovers in the proper containers.
How to Reach En Ooru Wayanad
En Ooru Wayanad Heritage Village is reasonably easy to reach from Wayanad thanks to its first-rate road connections to major cities in Kerala and neighboring states. The closest airport to En Ooru is Kozhikode Airport, which is roughly 71 kilometers away. From the airport, you can travel to Wayanad by bus or taxi. Another option is to rent a car and drive to En Ooru. The nearest railhead, Kozhikode Railway Station, is about 62 kilometers away from En Ooru. The Kozhikode railhead offers excellent access to Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, and other major Indian cities, as well as a number of regional cities and towns in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. You can simply call a cab when your train arrives, though the fare may be higher.
The En Ooru Wayanad heritage village offers more than just a tourist experience. It is an opportunity to discover and establish connections with the tribal community. So, if you are planning a trip to Wayanad, do add this place to your itinerary.
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