By November, Kerala‘s State Water Transport Department (SWTD) plans to introduce Kuttanad Safari, a package tourism boat service that connects a number of locations throughout the area. On Pathiramanal Island, an amphitheatre will be built as part of the project. The amphitheatre will be constructed using ecological elements like bamboo and grass to encourage environmentally conscious and conscientious travel. According to officials, preliminary work had already started, and construction of the amphitheatre will start in the next several days.
The Indian Oil Corporation is funding the construction of the amphitheatre, which is being carried out in collaboration with the Muhamma grama panchayat. The SWTD’s new solar-powered passenger boat, Soura-1, will be utilised for Kuttanad Safari. The Nehru Trophy finishing point will be the first stop on the voyage, which will start at 10 a.m. from the Alappuzha boat port. A traditional breakfast with regional delicacies will be given to guests while the yacht continues along the Azhikkal Canal. Visitors will be able to watch and participate in traditional mat weaving, palm frond weaving, and coir making. There will also be handcrafted goods for sale, including mats, winnowing baskets, and umbrellas made from palm fronds. After passing actual chundan vallams, or snakeboats, the safari will give guests a close-up look at the breathtaking Kuttanadan scenery and provide information on how the C Block and R Block regions were formed.
A traditional Kuttanadan lunch, consisting of a combination of toddy-shop specialities and backwater treats, will be provided after you get to R Block. Cultural acts including panchavadyam, shinkari melam, velakali, and kuthiyottam will be performed on board during the journey. The boat will arrive at Pathiramanal Island by evening, when the amphitheatre will host performances of traditional arts. The Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) will work with the theatre to organise cultural events.
Tourists can observe clam harvesting and processing in the backwaters on the way back to Alappuzha. Additionally, they will be able to purchase Alappuzha’s distinctive goods from floating shops. At 6 p.m., the safari will come to an end at the Alappuzha boat jetty. In order to carry out the project, Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar paid a visit to Pathiramanal Island a few months ago. The SWTD is carrying out the project in a way that allows visitors to take in all of Kuttanad’s natural splendour in a single boat ride.
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