Discover the Magic of Words: Experience Kerala’s First Literary Travel Festival, Yaanam, in Enchanting Varkala!
The picturesque coastal town of Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram is set to host Yaanam, Kerala’s inaugural travel literary festival, from October 17 to 19. This festival, curated by author and festival director Sabin Iqbal, is a revival of an earlier concept pitched in 2017 as “Books on the Beach,” aimed at promoting the beauty of Kovalam, but was shelved due to unforeseen circumstances. The term “Yaanam,” which means travel in Sanskrit, encapsulates the festival’s theme: “Of tales, trails, and travel.”
The event is designed to delve into various facets of travel, from writing and technology to the opportunities and challenges that lie within the industry. It aims to assemble a vibrant group of writers, bloggers, and literary enthusiasts, making it an essential event for those passionate about the written word and exploration. Sabin Iqbal envisions Yaanam as an annual event that will move to different locations throughout Kerala, enriching the cultural and literary landscape of the region.
In an insightful remark, Iqbal noted the historical importance of travel writing. “In literature, travel writing or works about great journeys have played a significant role. There are classics written on journeys that have contributed immensely to cultural and literary development,” he stated. His perspective highlights how travelers’ accounts have carved out a critical part of history, especially in a pre-digital world. “Kerala owes much to the merchants and travelers who have visited us, leading to a socio-cultural exchange that enriches our language, cuisine, and perspectives,” he added.
Alongside panel discussions and workshops, the festival will feature guided trails around Varkala, including a visit to Kayalpuram, an often-overlooked backwater village. This initiative aims to highlight and promote lesser-known destinations. Sabin reiterated the festival’s goal of enhancing visibility and marketability for travel-related opportunities in the region.
The festival will also host a lineup of prominent speakers, including Booker Prize-winning author Shehan Karunatilaka, poet Madhu Raghavendra, content creator Kritika Goel, journalists Binoo K. John and Pallavi Aiyar, and writers Ullekh NP and Anurag Mallick, along with entrepreneur Piya Bahadur. With attendance limited to 150 to 200 participants, the evening cultural events will remain open to the public.
Organizing an event of this scale presents its challenges, according to Iqbal. “The major challenge in organizing such a festival is that it typically requires six to seven months of planning,” he explained, drawing from his experience managing prior editions of the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters. “Securing notable names in travel literature demands extensive outreach, often taking up to a year. For Yaanam, we only had around a month to prepare.” The time constraint was compounded by the itinerant nature of travel writers, making coordination more complex. Iqbal has promised to start preparations much earlier for future editions.
Registrations for Yaanam are set to open on October 10, and interested participants can sign up through www.keralatourism.org. This festival not only promises to be a celebration of literature and travel but also aims to position Kerala as a vibrant hub for literary tourism. Join the conversation and immerse yourself in the adventures that await at Yaanam, where literature meets the spirit of exploration.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/keralas-first-literary-travel-festival-yaanam-in-varkala-will-celebrate-destination-and-literature/article70138256.ece
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Publish Date: 2025-10-08 16:35:00
