The picturesque ‘En Uru’, the first tribal heritage village in the State and a new addition to the tourism map of Wayanad, has become a preferred destination for tourists.
The new destination has been set up jointly by the Tourism and Scheduled Tribe Development departments on 25 acres on the slope of a hillock at Pookode.
The comprehensive tribal development project was aimed at setting up a permanent platform to showcase the diverse tribal traditional knowledge and heritage as well as to enhance the livelihood options of tribal communities.
The site has been set up at a cost of ₹10 crore. It was opened to visitors on June 4 this year, and around 29,900 tourists, including 2,900 children, had visited the site till June 28, P.S. Shyamprasad, chief executive officer in charge, En Uru project, told The Hindu.
A cluster of traditional tribal huts covered with hay, facing the faraway camel hump mountain complex, set up on around two acres is a major attraction of the site.
As many as 16 stalls selling souvenirs, spices, and handicrafts of tribal artisans, a felicitation centre, warehouse for collecting handicrafts, and an open-air theatre with seating capacity for 300 people have also been set up atop a hill.
Two cafeterias, run by tribal cooks and Gothrasree, a Kudumbashree unit of tribal people selling ethnic cuisines, are the other attractions.
Private vehicles are allowed up to a parking ground near the gate of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University headquarters at Pookode.
Shuttle jeep services are available to reach the spot at a cost of ₹20 per head. The entry fee for tourists is ₹50 for one adult and ₹20 for a child.
“We are planning to stage tribal art forms in the open-air theatre after monsoon,” Mr. Shyamprasad said. A tribal food fest and art fest are also on the anvil, he added.
