Kanthallur, a serene village renowned for its cool-season vegetable and fruit farming in the Devikulam taluk of Idukki, has clinched the prestigious Gold Award from the Government of India in the Best Rural Tourism Projects category.

This recognition comes after an exhaustive eight-month evaluation of rural village projects from across the nation, with a total of 767 projects competing for honors. Among these, five secured the gold, while ten earned silver, and twenty received bronze.

Kanthallur’s triumph can be attributed to the successful implementation of the “Sustainable, Tangible, Responsible, Experiential, Ethnic, Tourism” (STREET) tourism project by the State Responsible Tourism Mission. This project played a pivotal role in securing the coveted award.

P. T. Mohandas, President of Kanthallur Panchayat, attributed their success to the proactive initiatives undertaken by the panchayat. These included initiatives such as maintaining street lighting, installing public water vending machines, erecting destination signboards, affixing stickers on taxi vehicles, efficient household waste collection, and establishing green check-posts at various locations.

Kanthallur’s pride extends beyond this award, as the village is home to two Geographical Indication (GI) status agricultural products, Marayur Jaggery and Kanthallur-Vattavada garlic. Mr. Mohandas expressed their aspirations, stating, “Our next initiative is to compete for the World Tourism award.”

Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas hailed this recognition as a substantial endorsement of Kerala’s commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism, as championed by the Responsible Tourism Mission.

The heart of Kanthallur’s tourism appeal lies in farm tourism, providing farmers with a stable source of income. Visitors flock to the village year-round to witness the cultivation of an array of fruits, including sweet lemons, strawberries, tree tomatoes, apples, oranges, plums, peaches, guava, mosambi, passion fruit, and tamarillo. The latest addition to this vibrant assortment is strawberries. These fruits thrive in the lush landscapes of Kulachivayal, Keezhanthur, Perumala, and Puthur, all within the Kanthallur grama panchayat.

K. A. Abraham, a local fruit farmer from Perumala near Kanthallur, explained that tourists visit his farm and purchase fruits directly from the plantation. He noted, “There is no need to seek out alternative markets to sell our produce. Tourists can evaluate the product’s quality right on the spot. Farm tourism significantly boosts our income.”

On World Tourism Day, Kerala Tourism Director P. B. Nooh received the award on behalf of Kanthallur from V. Vidyavathi, the Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, India, at a ceremony held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Mr. Mohandas was also present to accept this prestigious accolade.

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