En Ooru, a True Tribal Wonderland!

Vacations in Wayanad are indeed magical. With the cool cozy climate, hills and rivers, Wayanad is sure to win a traveller’s heart. But what if it could be made more special with a ‘tribal touch’? What if you could sit in a cafeteria, listen to some tribal music and enjoy the rain with a glass of chai and ethnic snacks? The tribal sect of Wayanad has always been well known around the world for their miraculous medicines and peculiar culture. Have you ever been curious about the traditions and lifestyle of these people? Ever dreamt of experiencing their cultural practices, food and medicines? Well, here is a chance to visit and be a part of a tribal village in Wayanad, that too at a very nominal rate. Visit ‘en ooru’, a government initiated tourism project near Lakkidi, Wayanad. Located at a stretch of 25 acres in Pookodu which comes under Mananthavadi Tea plantation Corporation, you can visit this wonderland from morning 9 to evening 5 at a mere ticket rate of Rs 50 /- for adults and Rs 20/- for children. This nature friendly village was constructed with a primary aim to preserve the precious tribal knowledge and to introduce historical legacy and tribal culture to the outside world. Within months of inauguration, En Ooru has emerged as the new face of sustainable tourism in Wayanad
Wayanad has a rich legacy for being homeland to a number of tribal communities like the Paniyas, Aadiyaas, Kaatunayakan, Kurichiyans and Oorali kurumas. Many of them have peculiar traditional practices and food habits. A visit to en Ooru will gift a memorable trip to see and experience their
culture and traditions.

En Ooru government project has been inspired from Similar projects like Shilpagramam in Hyderabad, Muziris Heritage in Kodungallor, Irangal Sargalaya in Vadakara, Dakshinachchira in Chennai, Auroville in
Pondicherry etc. Apart from buying their carefully conjured herbal medicines that are said to have miraculous healing powers, you can watch their cultural programs held at the Amphitheatre, visit their
art museum to appreciate the beauty of tribal artifacts and buy handmade tribal handicrafts , fresh honey ,flavored soaps made from bee wax , spearmint etc from the respective stalls . One main attraction of En Ooru is their traditional restaurant named ‘Ghadhdhika’ where authentic tribal dishes like ‘Vanarani’ and ‘Vanasundhari’ made with fresh ingredients from the forest are served to the public. The project has been taken to a wholesome level with organic farming, waste disposal and a traditional play area for kids.
En Ooru is located about 39kilometers from Mountain Shadows Wayanad, the most luxurious resort in South India. This ecstatic resort, located near Banasura sagar dam is situated 3 kilometers inside deep forest. The whole property has a tribal look with thatched roofs and each room opens to a breathtaking view of forest and lake. You can take a drive to En Ooru while you are staying here. So remember to write down En Ooru on your ‘must visit spots’ list on your next trip to Wayanad and cherish a memorable tribal experience in life!