Mannan Community’s Journey into Premium Heritage Tourism
Mannan community leaders explore Kochi’s premium heritage and sustainable tourism models, drawing insights for tribal culture-based premium tourism
Raman Rajamannan, the chief leader of the Mannan community, arrived in Ernakulam with fellow community members, Suresh, Amal, and Anandan, for a study visit to explore niche, premium tourism initiatives in and around Kochi.
Guided by heritage experiences curator Balagopal.C.K, the group initially wandered through the Hill Palace in Tripunithura, tracing the stories of the Cochin kings and kingdom, family lineages, and linked cultural heritage.
Exploring Thripunithara Hill Palace along with ernest Cochin Royal family members
A dialogue followed over a culinary feast with members of the erstwhile Cochin royal family, where history, customs, and the potential of community-rooted heritage tourism took centre stage.
Later, the group visited Kayal Island Retreat, where simplicity through sustainable and thoughtful design sparked dialogue on how minimal, meaningful investments can shape deeply curated, premium experiences.
"It was interesting to note how family lineage and their stories were communicated as an experience at Thripunithara Hill Palace. We could feel the heritage elements through the interaction. There are examples that we can utilise with our own Tribal culture similarly. Furthermore, the experience at Kayal Island Resort gave an insight into a simple yet valuable model of niche tourism. How they have utilised simple local initiatives in tourism and incorporated them into the natural backdrop, and catering to a premium segment of the market, was quite interesting. The Kayal boat ride with an electric boat was another serene experience to note. Our ideas are of the same nature in many ways, curating a calm experience in the natural backdrop, with the support of a local economy, promoting our cultural identity." - Raman Rajamannan
Watch: Video from the study visit led by Raman Rajamannan for exploring various tourism models
The visit was facilitated by ARPO under the Earthlore initiative. It is part of ARPO's drive to promote new models of heritage conservation and to tap into the economic potential of heritage in sectors such as tourism and creative industries.
