Here's all about Kerala Tourism's Project PEPPER, which was launched by tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran on November 3.
What is PEPPER?
PEPPER or People’s Participation for Planning and Empowerment through Responsible Tourism is a project that seeks to involve people in tourism planning and development.
The project being undertaken in the Vaikom assembly constituency by the Tourism Mission has the support of the World Tourism Organization (WTO).
The first phase of the project covers Vaikom municipality, Thalayazham, Vechoor, Kallara, Maravanthuruth, Chempu, Udayanapuram and TV Puram, and the second phase will target Thalayolapparambu and Vellur panchayats. The project will be completed by December 2019.
The project aims to involve residents and local bodies to decide on the tourism activities in their areas. Within local bodies, the gram sabhas will hold meetings to discuss tourism programs. At present Udayanapuram and Thalayazham panchayats have held gram sabhas in this regard.
Tourism booster shot
The PEPPER project will make the temple town of Vaikom a prominent tourist destination.
All the festivals in the temples and other bodies in the area that have rich audio-visual elements will be fully videotaped.
The festivals that will be covered include Vaikathasthami (Vaikom temple festival), the festivals at various churches, Karthika festival at Udayanapuram, Thiyyattu dance, Gandharvan Thullal (dance of celestial men), Sarpam Thullal (dance of snakes), Garudan Thookkam (eagle hanging) and Aattuvela (water carnival).
The sarpa kavus (abodes of snakes) and places where Gandharvan Thullal takes place will be included in the project. Arrangements will be made for tourists to see all the festivals in temples and churches.
Moreover, traditional crafts in Vaikom including coir weaving, earthen pot making, mat weaving and coconut leaf weaving will be encouraged as part of the project. Tourists coming to enjoy these traditional and village crafts are set to boost income levels in the village.
Pennar Thodu & Athirampuzha
The Discover Kottayam programme's canal tourism segment will now feature Pennar Thodu and Athirampuzha. The MVIP canal will open to Chanthakulam. Once water reaches Chanthakulam, Pennar Thodu will flow towards Vembanad Kayal. On the way, tourists can enjoy the beauty of the canal and the greenery of paddy fields and reach Athirampuzha through Pennar Thodu.
All facilities including washrooms have been set up as part of the 'Take a break' scheme for tourists reaching Athirampuzha. Tea and coffee, cold drinks and snacks will be made available.
Aruvikkuzhy waterfall
The first phase of the Aruvikkuzhy tourism project too was inaugurated. As part of the project, rain shelters have been set up on both sides of the waterfall. Plans are also afoot to build a bridge across the waterfall, while an outlet selling snacks have become operational there.
Enjoy the waterfall
Aruvikauzhy offers spectacular views of water falling down layers of rocks. Though monsoon is the best time, visitors come here during all seasons. An 8km journey from Pambadi through Kooroppada-Pallikkathodu route will take one to Aruvikauzhy. From Pala side, visitors can take the Mutholy-Pallikkathodu route.
From the eastern side, tourists can take the Kooraly-Pallikkathodu-Oravakkal route or the Kodungoor-Pallikkathodu route to reach Aruvikauzhy.
