Kochi: Kerala has scaled up its globally-appreciated heritage tourism by rolling out 33 ‘Spice Journeys’ trails to take visitors through the land’s fascinating history and culture, stretching from the up-north Kasaragod to Kollam in the south.
The project, helmed by Muziris Heritage Projects, was unveiled at the three-day International Spice Routes Conference, opened by Tourism Minister, Shri PA Mohamed Riyas.
Building on the legacy of the fabled Spice Routes that marked Kerala as a global hub of maritime trade, the Spice Journeys circuit invites travellers to an immersive experience of relishing the nuances of stories and flavours woven into the land’s eclectic culture.
Spice Journeys takes travellers through Kerala’s streets, temples, churches and harbours, where history mingles with everyday life. Starting from Bekal in Kasaragod, the journey stretches along multiple sites that bear the imprint of history and cultural engagements in Kannur, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Kollam. Based on the history and cultural diversity that define different regions, the circuit is structured into eight clusters, each comprising 33 journeys.
The Kasaragod-Bekal cluster has two segments to it, Kodagu-Thulunadu and Kodagu-Bekal trails, covering a string of sites in its wake, some of them bordering Karnataka. Moving on, there are Kannur-Thalassery and Kannur-Kozhikode trails, which have several interesting sites and stories awaiting the walkers, including the Mappila Culinary session, Mystical Theyyam experience and Colonial Heritage trails.
The journey then moves on to Fort Kochi, which promises visitors a highly riveting time of leisure and learning, tracking Kochi’s rise as a global spice port. Unfolding along the way are colonial streets and structures, trade stories and tangible legacies of cultural encounters, topped with a curated food experience.
The Ernakulam-Thrissur Muziris Heritage Walk is packed with structures and stories, including the region’s Jewish connection dating back to the pre-Christian era, with the ancient port Muziris touched by merchant ships from West Asia and the Mediterranean lands at its heart.
Moving further south to Alappuzha, the visitors have a rich treat of tangible and intangible heritage waiting amid a panoramic setting lapped by backwaters, canals, inlets andthe Arabian Sea. The journey then progresses to Kollam, which has several biodiversity spots as well, towards the region’s eastern tracks, along with historically, culturally and commercially significant sites along the coast.