The scenic ‘En Uru’, the state’s first tribal heritage village and a new addition to Wayanad’s tourist map, has become a favorite destination for tourists.
The new destination was set up jointly by the Scheduled Tribes Tourism and Development Departments on 25 acres on the slope of a knoll in Pookode.
The overall tribal development project aimed to establish a permanent platform to showcase the various tribal traditional knowledge and heritages, as well as improve the livelihoods of the tribal communities.
The site was set up at a cost of ₹10 crore. It was opened for visitors on June 4 this year and about 29,900 tourists including 2,900 children had visited the site till June 28, said PS Shyamprasad, general manager in charge of En Uru project. The Hindu.
A cluster of traditional hay-covered tribal huts, facing the distant mountain complex of camel humps, set in about two acres is a major attraction at the site.
No less than 16 stalls selling souvenirs, spices and handicrafts from tribal artisans, a congratulatory center, a warehouse for collecting handicrafts and an open-air theater with a capacity of 300 people have also been set up at the top. from a hill.
Two cafeterias, run by tribal cooks and Gothrasree, a Kudumbashree unit of tribes selling ethnic cuisines, are the other attractions.
Private vehicles are permitted to a parking lot near the gate of the headquarters of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University in Pookode.
Jeep shuttle services are available to reach the spot at a cost of ₹20 per person. The entrance fee for tourists is ₹50 for an adult and ₹20 for a child.
“We plan to stage tribal art forms in the outdoor theater after the monsoon,” Mr. Shyamprasad said. A tribal food festival and an arts festival are also on the anvil, he added.
