KuranganiGOI-UNDP Endogenous Tourism Program
a design reportJune 2007
Kiran Keswani
architect
Bangalore, India
2
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
3
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
4
5
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
6
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.
7
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
8
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.
9
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
10
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.
11
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.
12
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.
13
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
14
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.
15
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.
16
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
17
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
18
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.
19
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
20
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.
21
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.
22
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.
23
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.
24
25
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
26