From November to May, Theyyam rises in village shrines, sacred groves, and ancestral family home courtyards. Performers do not play roles, they become deities. It is intense, devotional, and among the oldest living traditions of North Kerala. This region is where you witness it in its truest form.

Bekal Fort stands on a laterite headland, its walls watching the sea on three sides. Built for coastal defense in the 17th century, it still holds guard towers and passages that once slipped down toward the water. The fort returned to national fame when the song Uyire Uyire from the movie Bombay placed it on many screens.

Discover sacred sites like the unique Ananthapura Lake Temple, ancient Madhur shrine, and mystical Madiyan Koolom - each maintaining distinct rituals, legends, and architectural heritage. These aren't tourist destinations but living centers of faith that continue to anchor community life.

A houseboat on the Tejaswini river carries you into the quiet channels of Valiyaparamba. The banks slide by with coconut shade, small boats, and everyday life at the water’s edge. Evening closes with a soft sunset where the river greets the Arabian Sea in a calm estuary.

A brief journey from Poothali leads to a traditional pottery community near Nileshwar where artisans shape clay using time-honored hand-throwing techniques, natural sun-drying, and wood-fired kilns - a craft that remains practical, functional, and deeply connected to its cultural origins.

Kasaragod’s handlooms, especially the Kasaragod saree, carry influences from the weaving communities that settled here centuries ago. The saree holds a recognised Geographical Indication and remains a sturdy, everyday classic.

In Kunhimangalam, bell‑metal artisans cast lamps and deities by hand, a tradition tied to the moosari clans for centuries. The rhythm of ladle, mold, and furnace is its own lesson in patience and memory.

Enjoy a 35-kilometer exploration through verdant agricultural landscapes, following paths bordered by climbing pepper vines, towering coconut groves and arecanut plantations. This gentle journey reveals how the earth continues to sustain the region's communities through traditional farming methods.

Founded in 1931 by Swami Ramdas and Mother Krishnabai, Anandashram welcomes seekers to a life of prayer, service, and shared silence. Near Kanhangad, the ashram offers chanting, meditation, and simple community rhythm. Many come for a few hours and leave with a quieter heart.

Explore the former royal residences of Nileshwar's historic rulers, celebrated for their intricate wooden construction, hand-carved ceilings, and peaceful inner courtyards. These architectural treasures still radiate the elegance and nobility of their royal heritage. Walk through the wooden halls and shaded courtyards of Nileshwaram’s old kovilakams and palace. Carved ceilings, a central courtyard, and a still pond speak of another time

Between 1923 and 1927, Bhagawan Nithyananda carved 43 caves by hand from a single laterite hill near Hosdurg Fort, an astonishing feat of engineering that still endures. The stone itself seems alive—warm in winter, cool in summer. Above the caves, the Nithyananda Temple was built in 1963, housing a Panchaloha idol of the saint in Abhaya mudra.

Navigate the serene Kavvayi backwaterways amongst uniquely sphere shaped mangroves and wide open water channels. Observe native bird species and witness authentic village life unfolding along the water's edge. The sunsets here don't demand attention - they simply offer quiet magic to those present.

The agricultural lands, beaches and wetlands surrounding Poothali provide habitat for remarkable species including the White-bellied Sea Eagle and Small Pratincole. Expert-led excursions are available for those interested in exploring the area's diverse avian life and seasonal migration patterns - perfect for nature enthusiasts and wildlife photography.

Ranipuram stands as a picturesque hill station within the Western Ghats near the Kerala-Karnataka border, reaching heights just above 1,000 meters. Hiking paths wind to the summit through shola forests and rolling grasslands, culminating at rock formations offering panoramic views across forested valleys and meadows.

Azhithala marks the confluence where the Tejaswini River meets the Arabian Sea alongside an extended stone jetty projecting into the waters. Local fishermen gather here to cast their lines from the pier. It's a peaceful shore where the ocean's presence feels both intimate and eternal.

Madakkara Harbour serves as a dynamic estuarine fishing center vital to local community livelihoods. At dawn, the port awakens with returning fishing vessels carrying the night's catch. Merchants call out to purchasers, auctions commence, and the atmosphere fills with the distinctive aroma of ocean-fresh seafood. From observation points, you witness coastal living entirely shaped by maritime rhythms

Throughout the Padanna-Kavvayi-Valiyaparamba backwaters, over 6,000 cultivators - predominantly organized in women's cooperatives - raise kallummakkaya (green mussels) on coir rope systems suspended from bamboo platforms. These brackish waters now yield over 7,000 tons annually, representing nearly 70% of India's farmed mussel production. Peak harvests occur in May and June, with fresh supplies available from late April through August. Some still collect wild mussels from tidal rocks when conditions allow - a traditional practice governed by seasons and tidal patterns.

In modest workshops and home courtyards, women sit in traditional positions, rolling tobacco into tendu leaves with practiced precision. Though declining in recent decades, beedi production continues to provide income in rural North Kerala communities, particularly among elder craftswomen. No machinery is involved - only muscle memory, dexterity, and inherited knowledge. It's meticulous, often monotonous work, passed across generations. Observing this process offers genuine insight into a local industry that once supported countless families.

Toddy tapping is the natural harvesting of sap from coconut trees. Each dawn, experienced tappers ascend tall palms to gather the sweet, mildly fermented sap in clay vessels. Witnessing this traditional skill demonstrates both the physical expertise required and toddy's cultural importance in Kerala's rural communities.

Regional artisans throughout North Kerala transform coconut fronds into beautiful and practical items - baskets, hats, floor mats, and ornamental pieces - using intricate weaving methods inherited through generations. Visitors can observe demonstrations and attempt crafting themselves, developing appreciation for this sustainable, environmentally conscious art form.

For those drawn to adventure, a 4WD ride through the rural areas offers a rush of excitement and discovery. The trails wind through Kasaragod’s forests, hills, and valleys, revealing untamed rivers and landscapes that remain beautifully unspoiled. Every turn of the wheel opens to views that stir both thrill and wonder

Watch coconut husks transform into coir — the golden fibre of Kerala. From retting and beating to spinning and weaving, every stage reflects a craft that has shaped village life for centuries. In Kasaragod’s coir yards, the process is simple yet skilled, turning a humble husk into rope, mats, and everyday utility, all made by hand with patience and care.

Poorakkali is a vibrant traditional dance ritual performed by men in the Bhagavathy temples of North Malabar, Kerala, during the nine-day Pooram festival; around a brightly lit lamp, the dancers sing, clap, and enact tales from epics like the Ramayana with martial, acrobatic steps, maintaining rhythm and intensity as both a prayer and a celebration of community passed down through generations.

Yakshagana is a spectacular folk dance-drama from coastal Karnataka and parts of Kasaragod, combining energetic dance, live music, and striking costumes in vibrant open-air night performances; the art form brings to life stories from epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata through elaborate makeup, dramatic gestures, and powerful singing, with a lead storyteller guiding the action and troupes transforming village spaces into living theatres of myth and devotion.

Poothali offers guests the chance to experience the true taste of North Kerala through a variety of curated cuisines. From delicately spiced Malabar dishes to the festive Kerala sadhya and the rich flavours of Mappila cooking, every meal is prepared by local cooks following recipes passed down through generations. More than dining, it is a way of tasting memory, heritage, and the land itself.