India tourism Kochi, office of the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, in association with Kavvayi Stories organized a Heritage Walk of Freedom Movement Sites of Payyanur, Kannur, Kerala on 26th August, 2021. The event was organized in celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, commemorating 75 years of Indian Independence.

The Heritage walk was led by the Regional Director, India tourism South, Mr. D. Venkatesan, along with Manager, India tourism Kochi, Smt. Sandhya Haridas; IHMCT Kovalam Principal, Mr. K. Rajshekar and members of IATO, TAAI and the travel trade industry. The Heritage Walk began with the team paying floral tributes at the Gandhi Smriti Mandapam, housing the ashes of Gandhiji and paying respects at the Mango tree planted by Gandhiji at the Swami Ananda Thirth Ashram, during his visit to the Ashram in 1934. The event was graced by Payyanur Councilor, Shri V. Balan. Secretary of the Ashram, Shri. Damodaran presided over the function. Shri, Rahul Narayanan, Kavvayi Stories recounted his family association with the freedom struggle. Thereafter, the participants visited Uliyath Kadavu, the main venue for the Salt Satyagraha, where the Salt law was broken and the movement of producing the “contraband salt’, was launched.

The team later visited the Old Police Station Museum, reminiscing the struggle of the freedom fighters of Payyanur; recounting visit of Gandhiji to Payyanur and the peasant revolt of Karivellur, among other important events related to freedom struggle that Payyannur had witnessed. Indiatourism Kochi proposes to promote such destinations under the theme of Azadi Trails across Kerala, sensitizing the locals to explore the sites associated with freedom movement in their neighborhood.