Thalappuzha (Wayanad): The Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) has developed eco cottages for tourists at the Kambamala tea estate. The initiative comes as part of the corporation’s golden jubilee celebrations, with the Kambamala ecotourism project aiming to promote natural beauty and environmental awareness.

The cottages will be officially inaugurated on Monday by Minister A K Saseendran at a function to be held at the KFDC office premises. Minister O R Kelu will preside over the function. Although Kambamala had previously hosted ecotourism activities, they were discontinued in 2015 due to a shortage of water and the relocation of the divisional manager’s office to the estate. Ecotourism activities resumed in February this year.

Two eco cottages and a dormitory have been constructed to accommodate tourists, with facilities to host up to 15 people. A tea trail programme and trekking opportunities have also been organised as part of the tourism offerings. The Kambamala tea estate spans around 250 acres. The land, originally covered with eucalyptus trees, was converted into a tea plantation by the Forest Department. The overall development plan included the establishment of a factory, office buildings and residential quarters for workers. However, the workers’ living quarters (padis) still require further improvement.

In 1964, under an agreement between the then Prime Ministers of India and Sri Lanka, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, 64 Sri Lankan families were resettled in the region. Today, around 200 workers, including 93 permanent staff, are employed at the estate. The majority are descendants of the Sri Lankan settlers.

Families from Scheduled Tribe communities also reside and work in the padis. The tourism initiatives, including the eco cottages, are expected to generate additional employment opportunities. As part of diversification, other development initiatives are also being considered. Workers hope that increased tourism will help improve their living conditions.