Sugandhagiri was developed as part of the Western Ghats development project, initiated under the prime minister ship of Ms. Indira Gandhi during 1977 and it later become a comprehensive cardamom project. Around 260 families are living in an area of 3500 acres and they are divided into 7 units. Our journey through Sugandhagiri offers as some of the most exciting moments as we come across the magnificent mountain ranges, pristine streams and above all a close interaction with its inhabitants themselves.
For booking, Contact us Gramika Tours :09995809975, 09745482028, 0471-3084500
Timings | 08.00am to 6.00 pm |
Tariff | 50us$ per pax (2500 INR) (minimum 3 pax) |
Package include | Cost of transportation, Guide fee, Community contribution,& development fund, refreshment, Lunch and complementary gift pack |
Package does not include | Trekking, cycling, additional beverage and purchases etc. |
Package highlights |
Ø Visit handcraft unit Ø Anganavadi Visit Ø Sacred Grove Ø Traditional lunch Ø Plantation visit Ø Medicinal plants Ø Tribal settlement |
Visit handcraft unit
The first visit to a craft centre operated by ITDP (Integrated Tribal Development Program), which envisages empowering and enhancing the skill of tribal young people by developing different models and scriptures in wooden materials. This is a unique seen from Sugandhagiri.
Anganavadi visit
The next item in the list is a visit to the Anganavadi (Kinder Garten) near the craft centre. The interaction with the kids is something each one of us should find it quite interesting. The anganawadi also acts as the nodal centre for the implementation of various schemes of government for child and women development
Sacred Grove
The thing which appeals you during your voyage here is the Kavu (Sacred Grove), which stands tall as an embodiment of man’s submission to nature. Besides the annual gala during the Navaratri, daily rituals like lightning of lamps take place here. What adorn us on our voyage ahead are variety of trees assuming different size and shapes, amazing diversity of birdlife (checklist of birds attached) with carpet like tea gardens and rich coffee plantation with bright red berries.
Traditional lunch
At around 2 pm will start descending for Thomas’s house and our hosts Thomas and family will serve as a sumptuous lunch with boiled rice, sambar, aviyal, koottukari, pickle, papad, thoran, rasam, payasam and served in a plantain leaf, all part of a traditional kerala meal. Most of the ingredients in the food like yams, cucumber, chilly, curryleaf, leafy vegetables, etc are sourced directly from Thomas’s farm itself. The non-vegetarian items included are fishes and chicken fry.
Plantation visit
Karuppan’s house and its surroundings typify the most congenial ecological living using the locally available resources like bamboo, grass, clay and dung as the construction materials. Paniyas, the community which Karuppan belonged to, has been recognized by the outside world for their unrelenting commitment in upholding their age old traditions and values. Even today, the community members embellish themselves with the costumes and ornaments similar to their previous generations. In all their rituals and important ocassions, like marriages musical instruments like THUDI, drums made from animal skin and wood along with flutes made out of bamboo poles play a pivotal role. Our hosts from the community showcase and explain each instrument in detail. We can see a wide mix of crop assemblage at Karuppan’s farm yard where he cultivates coffee, pepper, plantain along with fruits like gooseberries, guava, jackfruit, etc. We can also take pleasure in the panoramic view of the distant valleys with tea plantation while enjoying the tender coconut offered by our dear hosts.
Medicinal plants
The backyard in Krishnan’s house offers the live exposure of things for which Wayanad is famous for, the spices. Spices like ginger and turmeric are cultivated in a vast area here and alongside we can see a large variety of medicinal plants like Adalodaka (English name) ( which is used for Asthma, cough and phlegm formation) Kurunthotti (English name) (used against rheumatism), Tulsi (English name), Arutha (English name) (used as a deterrent for snakes and also used as a medicine against unconsciousness). Other crops of interest include sweet potato, Kachil (English name), drum stick, orange etc. The traditional tools used for grinding and mixing of grains can be of special interest.
Tribal Settlement
Our next stop is at Annan’s house in the neighborhood. Annan belonged to the Kurichya community popularly known for their extra ordinary skills as warriors. They assume a special place in Kerala’s history as they were the most trusted soldiers for Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, the provincial raja of Malabar on his struggle for protecting his mother land from foreign invasion. Annan’s farmyard shares with us one of the most exciting stories of how a barren and non- cultivable land can be converted into a more fertile and productive area employing unstinted devotion and perseverance. A live example for the ecological living, Annan and his family teach us how man and nature can co-exist on mutual respect and understanding.
No comments:
Post a Comment