Kerala, which is frequently referred to as “God’s Own Country,” is about to launch India’s first literary tourist circuit, providing readers with a unique chance to follow in the footsteps of the most renowned authors from the state.
The goal of this ground-breaking project, led by Kerala Tourism, is to honor the lives and contributions of famous Malayalam writers by turning their homes, memorials, and birthplaces into must-see cultural sites.
Currently under construction, the Malabar Literary Tourism Circuit will link important cultural locations in Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Palakkad. Some of India’s most significant literary voices have come from these areas, which have long been the center of Malayalam literature. Given Kozhikode’s recent designation as a UNESCO City of Literature, which solidifies its status as a major literary center worldwide, the program has even greater significance. The Thunchathu Ezhuthachan Museum in Tirur, which honors the founder of Malayalam literature, is one of the circuit is highlights. In Kozhikode, tourists can honor renowned travelogue author SK Pottekkatt and renowned poet Akitham Achuthan Namboodiri, whose writings have influenced Kerala’s literary scene.
A homage to MT Vasudevan Nair, the renowned novelist and filmmaker who died in December 2024, is a more recent addition. The “Beypore Sultan,” Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Memorial in Beypore, Kozhikode, is the site of Basheer’s former home. Surrounded by trees he planted himself, it will provide visitors with an insight into his private life. The OV Vijayan Memorial, which will honor the author of Khasakkinte Itihasam (The Legends of Khasak, 1969), a foundational work in contemporary Malayalam literature.
Kerala’s literary tourism circuit is scheduled to open in the middle of the year and is anticipated to draw both history enthusiasts and book lovers as well as cultural tourists. The circuit is positioned to grow into a popular destination for both domestic and foreign tourists, especially since the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) attracts international attention every year.
