A Day with Artisans at Sargalaya Arts and Craft Village

This time my travel is to Sargalaya Arts and Craft Village in Iringal which is near to the coastal town of Vadakara. I reached Kozhikode late night for next day's program and took rest in a Hotel. Next morning,  after having breakfast, boarded  a private bus from Kozhikode new bus stand at around 8.30 am. I stared out of the window and tried to make sense of the cityscape. 

Reached Oil Mill stop, Iringal at around 9.30 am. I was informed to wait at the bus stop. I walked around the place to find a tea shop and found Richus Thattukada and had a tea. When all members in the group arrived, we took  an auto and headed to Sargalaya craft village. We, a gang of 20, were anxious to meet the people who have devoted their lives to art or are living a life of art.

The session started at around 11.15 am. We sat on the benches facing Parakulam. Mr. Rajesh Sir and Mr.Sivadas Sir briefed us about the craft village. 

Spread across 20 acres of land, Sargalaya Craft village is developed and managing by  Ooralangal  labour coorperative society.  Started in 2011, it is the first craft village and it gives importance to both  tourism and craft. It has already invested 27 crores in two phases and attracts more than 4 lac visitors per year. It consists of 27 huts for craft making and has one craft training acadamy.  Around 100 craftsmen are associated with this place.

We started from the hut where clay models by  Mr.A.K.Arun were displayed. The models  that he made were simply beautiful. If you want to see the craftmen at work, this is a great place to visit.

Then we visited huts for  bamboo products, flowers made up of natural products etc. Another hut showcases Kayar products, then a Naithu shala which produces 3 meter cloth  a day. We were simply mesmerised seeing these works. 

Naithu Sala

The Craft village is really beautiful. Every year, Sargalaya  hosts 19 days handicraft exhibition. There is one aqua section also. We had lunch from the canteen in the village.

It has one lake  and is known as parakulam and has boating facility. Boating was interesting and 4 persons can use pedal boats at a time.

Then we headed to Kunjalimarakkar  Museum which is around  2km from the craft village. Our guide explained about the history of Museum.

The Kunjali Marakkar Museum is the old house of Kunjali Marakkar,  the naval chief of the Zamorin of Calicut. Marakkar was the honored title bestowed upon the family of valorous fighters, who were the admirals of the Zamorin's fleet. Kunjali Marakkar fought valiantly against the Portuguese army and the Portuguese were able to capture him only through treachery. After his defeat, he was imprisoned and later, beheaded in Goa.

Some of the prominent displays include the sword used by Kunjali Marakkar, cannon balls and some other war relics belonging to the period of the Zamorins.

It was already 5 PM  and we decided to bid goodbye till we meet in another place.