Life in VaikomIt is said that real India exists in her villages. Urban India, although large and constantly growing, represents only a small portion of the entirety of this vast nation. Yet it is the cities that one would normally see on a visit to India. In Kerala ‘Rural’ and ‘Urban’ exist so close together that it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between the two, it is hard to say where one ends and the other begins. Villages, small towns and cities co-exist harmoniously and it is this view of India that we endeavor to show you.
To the city dweller – even in India – an Indian village is a quaint collection of thatched huts, women carrying pots of water to and fro, oxcarts rambling by and men working in the fields. The vision is simplistic and artistic, but not quite accurate. The reality is far more complex – there are still village women ambling and men working in fields but there is so much more!
In Kerala, the average citizen is educated and economically secure – even in rural areas. There are few thatched huts and most homes are permanent structures. Life is simple but people are gainfully occupied and content. Smiles come easily and this is what you will experience today.
Your tour today takes you into one of Kerala’s villages – the village of Vaikom. Located in the district of Kottayam, Vaikom is one of the oldest villages in Kerala and is a fine representation of rural life in Kerala. During your visit you will be able to walk through and see what life is like here on a typical day. You will see local homes, interact with local people and also be able to see the various activities by which folk earn their livelihood. You will view ladies weaving coir ropes out of coconut husks, potters at work, straw mats being woven out of pineapple leaves – even small workshops with workers concentrating hard at the job on hand.
You will also visit the local market, local school and the Khadi Centre where villagers spin cloth out of cotton, silk and wool – all by hand. It was Mahatma Gandhi who promoted khadi in India as a means for rural self-employment and self-reliance. It became an integral part of the struggle for independence – a symbol for self-reliance, for independence. Even today it is an integral symbol of rural development. In fact, the flag of India is officially only made of khadi even today.Refreshments will be served during your visit after which you will return to the pier.

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