Lifescapes Of A Farming Village-Ramamangalam

Villages in Kerala still try to maintain the cultural heritage of the region including local farming, traditions and cuisine. As a part of our Sustainability initiative, we are working together with Ave Stella Maris College and Ramamangalam Panchayath to support the circular economy of the region and to support the conservation of a village culture and tradition. We conduct this tour with the help of local story tellers and young, amateur guides. The entire returns from this tour will be given back to the local community at the village to support the conservation of its culture and heritage.

Ramamangalam which is just 25 kms away from Cochin, still carries the local flavour of a farming village with rich traditions and a cultural heritage. Our below day trip will showcase some cultural, lifestyle and farming elements for which the village is proud of.

The temples we showcase in this tour are managed by the local trusts which need support for the maintenance and up keeping the architectural structure which are hundreds of years old.

Shatkala Govinda Marar Memorial Art Society is also a centre of attraction as it’s a great tribute to the renowned Carnatic singer Shatkala Govinda Marar who was also a prominent member at the Royal scholars in Sree Swathi Thirunal’s Court/ Music circuit. As a contemporary of the King of Carnatic Music, Sri Thyagaraja Swami, his musical tradition is being well conserved at this cultural centre by offering educational sessions in art forms to the local community members. This centre is also an active participant in all cultural events in the local community. We have also possibilities for lecture demonstrations followed by classical art performances for interested groups.

The village is also known for many traditional heritage family houses of hundreds of years old which still boasts about the glory of the area once upon a time. A visit to such a house and a meal with the family or even an overnight stay can also be a part of the experience.

Day Trip from Cochin-Exclusive Guided Group Tour

Start at 8.30 AM to reach the village by 10 AM to visit Mamalasserry Sree Ramaswamy Temple which is an architectural marvel with a Kerala traditional architecture. The minute carvings on wood depicting the stories from the Hindu epics are marvelous to the eyes.

Later go for a farm walk through the village to watch and understand the farming culture in the village. We will walk through paddy fields, rubber, tapioca and pineapple farms depending upon the season. Though so close to the Metro city Cochin, this village still carries a long farming tradition well preserved. We may also visit the centralised rubber latex processing unit managed by the farmers ‘cooperative society.

Later visit a traditional old heritage house in the village and enjoy a lunch with the family. The lunch will be prepared using the local produce which in turn supports the local farmers and the village’s circular economy. The host has a long heritage of having their ancestors living in the same house and it will be interesting to listen to the old stories of livelihood in the villages.

After a relaxed lunch, continue the village tour by visiting Shatkala Govinda Marar Memorial Art Society to watch a classical art performance by a local artist. Later by 5 PM, visit Ooramana Narasimhamoorthy Temple which again is a protected heritage structure. The amazing structure along with the unique mural paintings inside the temple are not easily found anywhere else. If the group wishes to offer a special Chuttuvilakku at the temple, it’s possible. As it may take around 2 hours to prepare the entire temple to get lit, with the group’s participation, it should be finished before 6.30 PM when the evening special prayers start. It will be a real festival for your eyes to see the entire temple lit with oil lamps and the local community prays going around the lit temple.

In case, if the group stays until the chuttuvilakku offer, we can also organize a dinner at the village where the food will be prepared and served by Kudumbasree, a women empowerment group supported by the government.

You will return to Cochin after this wonderful village living experience with a great satisfaction that you contributed big to the sustainability element of conserving the local culture and traditions. The amount you pay for this tour will enrich the circular economy through the local community members who are a part of this tour.

As this tour is not a fabricated one, you will definitely come across many more real moments of joy as it’s a walk through to a living village and what you witness here is real life.

Local Community Beneficiaries of this Sustainable Itinerary

• Mamallapuram & Ooramana Temple Conservation projects
• Shatkala Govinda Marari Memorial Arts Society and its arts student performers
• Kudumbasree Women self-help groups in the village
• Homestay units in the village
• Local story tellers and farmers
• Student Representatives from Ave Stella Maris College

Special Note:

• Kerala villages are culturally sensitive and we should respect the same throughout the tour
• Dress modestly with full body covered
• No sleeveless please
• Temple entries are subject to the guidelines suggested by the temple authorities
• Any special interactions like school visits etc. will be subject to availability/local holidays etc.
• Some activities like participating in Chuttuvilakku demonstration at the temple and watching a lecture demonstration of art forms at the Arts Society will be subject to the group size.