KuranganiGOI-UNDP Endogenous Tourism Program

a design reportJune 2007

Kiran Keswani

architect

Bangalore, India

kiranmkeswani@gmail.com

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1. To finalise acquisition of traditional houses or buildings from owners who are willing to contribute to

the Rural Tourism program, for adaptive re-use as interpretation centre, spice shop, cafetaria, toilets

and homestays in Kurangani village (lower station), Middle station and also in Bodinayakkanur town.

2. To create a local implementation team that can restore a traditional structure or build a new one

using traditional building materials and skills.

3. To begin upgrading of infrastructure facilities of Kurangani village, Middle station and Top

station in terms of water supply, electricity, garbage disposal, drainage and sewerage systems.

4. To discuss with entrepreneurs who will offer camping facilities and to finalise the camping sites.

5. To identify the skilled artisans who supply tents to the vendors at the Theni weekly market and to

discuss the needs of the Kurangani spice tour & commission a sample, camping tent.

Action points for the hardware component of the Kurangani project are :

Local Implementation team to include :

Engineer

Senior mason

Carpenter with traditional skills

Local village youth

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The “places to do” in Kurangani

SPICE TOURISM project site could be :

1. The 14km trek to Top-station

2. Camping at Middle station

3. Spice walk at lower station

4. Tribal hamlets

5. The Cardamom grading centre at

Bodinayakkanur

6. Palace at Bodinayakkanur

For those of the places finalised, we will need

to provide sufficient infrastructure, to make it

possible for tourists to visit these places in

a comfortable manner.

What are the tour packages that will be offered?

One-day, two-day or a week ? What will be the

itinerary for these tours?

Finalising the “Places to do” in Kurangani

Identifying the Tourist amenities needed

The BASIC tourist facilities needed are :

for

The 14km trek to Top-station

TOILETS

RESTAURANT

PLACE TO STAY

Camping at Middle station

CAMPING SITES

Spice walk at lower station

TOILETS

Tribal hamlets

TOILETS

The Cardamom grading centre

& Palace at Bodhinayakanur

TOILETS

SPICE SHOP

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Developing the infrastructure

There is a need to understand and to improve :

1. The 4 ½ hour road route from Theni to

Top-station that passes through Munnar

2. Although it passes through Kerala, and is not

directly a part of the project site, it may be

possible to influence the concerned authorities

to provide a toilet & a clean eating place at

Poopara.

3. There are, en route, a few petrol stations that

may be approached for a tie-up on the tourism

program. They can provide a toilet facility and

a drinking water/tea counter.

4 It is essential to generate these associations,

wherever possible, so that no new “toilet blocks”

arise onto the pristine natural landscape.

It is essential to also finalise the various circulation patterns that will be generated

when the tourist flow begins. Each of these routes then, need to be assessed, so

that appropriate infrastructure can be made available.

The infrastructure needs would need to be determined for developing each of

the tours / journeys that the tourist will take. This includes water supply,

electricity, garbage disposal, drainage and sewerage systems.

Assessing the Route

Circulation Patterns of tourists

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Current local architecture – what NOT TO promote

These are examples of buildings

that are being built to serve as

resting places and Resorts in

Munnar and between Theni and

Munnar.

Since they do not encourage use

of local building materials or

Indigenous craftsmanship, it must

be ensured that as few of such

buildings flourish in the Tourism

region.

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Architecture in the Munnar region

that should be DOCUMENTED AND REPLICATED

Elements to replicate :

Mangalore tile roof

Stone walls

the curved window elevation

Design of glass window shutters

Wooden fascia board/eaves board

Entrance porch

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Natural landscaping

& the built-forms that

may be REPLICATED

These are examples of buildings that are

being built to serve as resting places and

Resorts in Munnar and between Theni

and Munnar.

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These is a roof type that

may be best suited for the

new facilities that may be

planned for the

Endogenous tourism

project at Kurangani.

Most of the Tea Plantation

buildings in and around

the Munnar area are

roofed with these

corrugated metal roofs.

The green roofs have

created an interesting

roofscape in the region.

They are unique and also

offer an architecture

completely different from

the typical Kerala sloping

Roof with mangalore tiles.

ROOF designs in the Munnar region

to be incorporated at Kurangani Top Station and Middle station

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Details from the Munnar region

that may be used at Kurangani

RETAINING WALL & RAILING

DETAIL

STEPS & STONE COMPOUND

WALL DETAIL

Wherever possible, if

local stone is availble

at a reasonable price,

and if the stone

masonry skills are

available, it is

advisable to use

stonework for

retaining walls, steps

and pathways. If

workmanship is good,

it is also

recommended for

walls.

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Planning details of the Kerala Livestock Development Board Ltd.the Indo-Swiss project at Mattupatti, Munnar

It may be useful for the Implementing Engineering/Artisan team for the

Kurangani Endogenous tourism project to study this Centre, on the way to

Top-station along the vehicular route.

It is worth noting the random stone masonry, the proportions of the concrete

lintels painted white and the sloping tiled roof detail. The signage locations are

also appropriately chosen.

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Use of natural wood

for SIGNAGE

& TREE HOUSES

These are examples

of wooden signage

and a tree house

seen at Munnar.

These are examples

of signage that use

a combination of

stone & wood or

stone & vinyl board.

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Existing Signage at Top station

The existing signage uses tubular metal

supports and metal signboards.

Proposed Signage

It is suggested that wood be used as much as possible

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Facilities at Top station for eating, resting & a convenience store

The facilities available at present

need to be upgraded or replaced

in entirety.

The structures are of a temporary

nature. They need inputs of good

workmanship and use of natural

building materials such as exposed

stone walls and tiled roofs or stone

walls and corrugated metal roofs of

high quality.

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Existing room facilities at Top station

The existing room facilities at Top station are as shown here. It is important

to plan a new set of facilities in the same location

and

to restore these existing rooms to a more hygienic setting

Proposed room

facilities

for Kurangani

The standard

of the rooms

being offered

to tourists

must be of

adequate

cleanliness

and hygience

value.

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Nature Trail

The 14 km trek or nature

trail may include the

following :

a Herb garden

Benches

Hammocks

Birdshop

Retreats / huts

Bird feeders

Green field home

Perennial garden

Elevation of

Birdshop

Viewing deck on tree

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Existing pathway from Top station to Lower station

The existing mud pathway is useable if it does not rain. In case of rainy weather, it tends to get slushy

and slippery and would be dangerous to use. In some parts of the trekking route, there still exist stone

pathways from earlier. Even small stretches intermittently along the way can make it easier for the tourist

to trek down more comfortably.

Small stretches of stone paths

may be planned as shown in

picture 2 , if implementing

the entire 14 km is expensive.

1 2Existing unpaved path Existing stone-paved path

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Facilities for a home-stay

available along the 14 km trek

• The same structures to be used

• Standards to be established for cleanliness

and hygiene for tourists

Existing benches at Top station with natural

wood which need to be replicated elsewherealong the trekking route as well.

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Kurangani existing settlement in its natural landscape

It is recommended that some of the existing families at

Lower station, Kurangani be approached to offer a room

as home stay to tourists.

The toilet facilities for the Lower station may also be

accommodated within the existing structures available

in this settlement.

Kurangani police station structure may be reused as

Tea/coffee shop with toilet facility

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Camping sites and the local material available

The Camping sites at

Kurangani top station, Middle

station, Lower station or in

areas available between

these may consists of 5 to 6

tents or more as per the

demand and as per the

capacity of the local

community to manage the

facility.

These images are taken at

the weekly market at Theni.

This market takes place every

Sunday. Local skills in making

these tents can be tapped for

the tourism camp sites.

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Some more examples of the materials used for the

tents at the Theni weekly market.

It is important to identify the artisans

who make the tents for the weekly

market; to explain the needs of the

tourism project and the ways in which

the camp sites will be used and to

adapt this local technique for the

project.

This would generate income for the

local people and also prevent the

ordering of camp-tents from city-based

dealers.

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Kurangani middle station

The existing houses at

Middle station use stone and

mud for the construction of

their walls.

The roofs are sloping,

sometimes in tin or in

asbestos cement.

For homestays to be

arranged at middle station,

refer earlier slide that shows

corrugated metal roofs in

green colour which may be

able to create a uniform and

interesting architectural

language for Kurangani.

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Kurangani Lower Station

Existing settlement in its natural landscape

The leaves of the areca nut

Tree are being used extensively

in the construction of walls for

verandahs or small shelters

outside the main house structure.

Areca nut leaves are also used

for laying of roofs in the

Kurangani region.

For the Endogenous Tourism or

Rural Tourism project, some of

the tea stall shelters for tourists

may use this building technique.

There may also be a need for

small shelters along the trekking

path from top station to lower

station which may use the areca

nut leaves.

“Places to do”

at Bodinayakkanur

the Palace Cardamom grading centre

It may be essential to have a few additional places

included in the Spice tour, in addition to the Spice

walk, in order to offer the tourists an interesting mix

of activities. Therefore, the Palace and Cardamom

grading centre may be considered.

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The Cardamom grading centre at Bodinayakkanur, between

Theni and Kurangani may be a part of the SPICE TOUR for

Kurangani.

It is suggested that they be requested to have a small tea

shop that can offer tourists fresh cardamom tea while they

are on their tour and when they visit the centre to understand

the grading activity.

Cardamom grading centre

at Bodinayakkanur

Summing up

ACTION POINTS for the hardware component

Finalising the “Places to do” in Kurangani

Identifying the Tourist amenities needed

Developing the infrastructure & Assessing the route

Current local architecture –what NOT TO promoteArchitecture in Munnar region to be DOCUMENTED AND REPLICATED

Natural landscaping & the built-forms that may be REPLICATED

ROOF designs in the Munnar region

Details from the Munnar region that may be used at Kurangani

Planning details of the Kerala Livestock Development Board Ltd.( the Indo-Swiss project at Mattupatti, Munnar )

Use of natural wood for SIGNAGE & TREE HOUSESExisting room facilities at Top station

Facilities at Top station for eating, resting & a convenience store station

Existing and Proposed SignageExisting pathway from Top station to Lower station

Proposed pathways along the trek

Facilities for a home-stayExisting benches at Top station with natural WoodKurangani existing settlement in its natural landscape

Camping sites and the local material availableKurangani middle station

Kurangani Lower Station - Existing settlement in its natural landscape

Cardamom grading centre at Bodhinayakanur

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