The much-ignored Chellanam, despite its scenic beach and abundant backwaters, looks for a face-lift with the launch of an agri-tourism project on Monday linking sea to farms.

The Chellanam grama panchayat which has a coastline running over 15 km is also home to five large paddy fields, and these will from now be a tourist attraction as well.

The Chellanam Agri-Tourism Development Society which runs the project with the support of the District Tourism Promotion Council hopes that the line of traditional boat-making units, which the Chellanam-Kannamaly area is famous for, will be an added attraction.

The society secretary, Mr K.V. Johnson, said that a 10-hour long tour package would also include visits to fishing hamlets where tourists would get a glimpse of different fish-catching practices prevalent in the area. A tour of coconut groves to show tourists the tapping of toddy and manufacturing of coir will be another attraction.

“The Rs 1,500-package is envisaged in such a way that the tourist gets first-hand information about traditional agricultural and fishing practices even while enjoying nature,” Mr Johnson added.
As per the itinerary, the tour programme would begin with a ride on a houseboat to Kari-Kalathara Island, which is about 1.5 km long. The project was inaugurated by Union minister K.V. Thomas.