Lifestyle Trend: Kerala maps 33 curated ‘Spice Journey’ trails You Should Know

Kochi: Kerala is taking its heritage tourism to the next level with the launch of 33 curated “Spice Journey” trails, aimed at showcasing the state’s historic spice trade legacy while creating immersive travel experiences from Kasaragod in the north to Kollam in the south.

The initiative, led by the Muziris Heritage Projects, was unveiled at the three-day International Spice Routes Conference, inaugurated by Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas. It seeks to position Kerala not just as a leisure destination, but as a living museum of maritime trade, cultural exchange, and culinary history that once linked the state to West Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean.

Built around the ancient Spice Routes that made Kerala a global trading hub, the programme offers travellers curated walks through streets, temples, churches, ports, and markets where history merges seamlessly with contemporary life. The 33 journeys are organised into eight regional clusters, each reflecting the cultural and historical identity of its area.

The trails start at Bekal in Kasaragod, extending through Kannur, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Kollam. Highlights include the Kodagu–Thulunadu and Kodagu–Bekal trails, which cross into Karnataka to showcase historical trade and cultural ties, and the Kannur–Thalassery stretch, offering Mappila culinary sessions, Theyyam rituals, and colonial heritage walks.

Fort Kochi serves as a central hub, exploring its evolution as a global spice port with colonial architecture, trade narratives, and curated food experiences. The Ernakulam–Thrissur Muziris Heritage Walk traces ancient Jewish connections and the port of Muziris, once visited by merchants from West Asia and Europe. Further south, Alappuzha and Kollam highlight backwater heritage, biodiversity corridors, and coastal trade histories, extending tourism beyond conventional sightseeing.

Riyas also announced the International Spice Routes Heritage Network, a global platform to promote heritage-led tourism. The conference includes sessions on sustaining transnational heritage corridors, digital tourism, and reimagining the Spice Routes for the future travel economy.

This initiative aims to turn Kerala’s rich cultural and trade history into a unique tourism proposition, attracting both domestic and international travellers.

(IANS)

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