Thalassery gets ₹25-crore Central aid for tourism project

Thalassery’s status as a heritage city and emerging pilgrimage tourism hub received a major boost with the Tourism Ministry granting administrative approval for ₹25 crore under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme.

Speaker A.N. Shamseer announced the funding, which would support six projects aimed at sustainable tourism development in the region.

The primary objective of the project is to develop key heritage and spiritual sites, promote ecotourism, and establish Thalassery as a notable pilgrimage destination in north Kerala. Among the major allocations, ₹4 crore has been earmarked for the renovation of the historic Thazhey Angadi heritage street, while ₹4.98 crore will go towards improving facilities at the iconic Jagannath temple.

The other key components include ₹1.51 crore for developing Chirakkalkavu, ₹1.93 crore for Ponnyam Ezharakandam Kalari Academy, ₹1.23 crore for the Chokli Nidumbaram Theyyam Kala Academy, ₹3.25 crore for green tourism initiatives, and ₹2.66 crore to enhance technical infrastructure. An additional ₹25 lakh will be spent on marketing and promotion, while ₹52 lakh has been allocated for training and workshops.

The State government will provide land and necessary support for the implementation of the project.

“This is a significant milestone in transforming Thalassery into a major cultural and spiritual tourism centre,” Mr. Shamseer said, expressing confidence that the initiative would also bolster local economy and community participation in tourism.