Kerala Tourism to host a 3-day travel literary festival called Yaanam 2025 from October 17 to 19 at Varkala

Kerala Tourism is set to host a vibrant three-day travel literary festival called Yaanam 2025 from October 17 to 19 at Ranga Kala Kendram, perched on the scenic cliffs of Varkala.

What Makes Yaanam 2025 Special:
- First-of-its-kind in India: A festival that celebrates the spirit of travel through storytelling, art, and adventure
- Curated by Sabin Iqbal, programmed by author Nirmala Govindarajan, known for her immersive travel narratives

- Star-studded lineup:
- Shehan Karunatilaka – Booker Prize-winning author
- Prakash Sontakke – Grammy Award-winning musician
- Pallavi Aiyar, Andrew Fidel Fernando, Prof. Nathalie Handal – acclaimed writers and journalists
- Tenzin Tsundue, Sudeep Chakravarti, Asha Thadani – poets, authors, and photographers
- Piya Bahadur – adventurer recounting her all-woman biking expedition across six countries
- Priya Ganapathy & Anurag Mallick – travel documentarians
- Karen Anand – food expert
- Kritika Goel – trend-setting travel vlogger

Festival Features:
- Talks, screenings, and conversations with travel creatives
- Curated trails showcasing Varkala’s natural and cultural gems
- Workshops on writing, photography, and wellness
- Promotion of Varkala as a global tourism destination, backed by a ₹25 crore development project

This event is part of Kerala Tourism’s broader push to spotlight Responsible Tourism, MICE tourism, and destination storytelling.