Kerala Aymanam village, setting of Arundhati Roy’s novel, on list of top 30 places to visit in 2022

Aymanam, a picturesque Kerala village that served as the setting for Booker Prize-winning Arundhati Roy’s novel ‘The God of Little Things’, is on Condé Nast’s list of the 30 best places to visit in the world in 2022.
Featured alongside locations in countries like the United States, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Singapore, Japan and Egypt on the list, Aymanam’s tourism initiatives have been awarded in 2021 for their focus on stimulation of local employment and nature conservation. Other places in India that made the list were Bhimtal, Sikkim, Odisha, Goa, Kolkata among others.
About Aymanam, the famous travel magazine said: “…it’s what makes people dream of going on a writing retreat to become a published author, or plugging into a digital detox , or to live a simple life close to nature.”
Travelers to Aymanam can watch birds, take long walks in rice fields, visit temples and churches, taste rich coconut preparations, board boats and watch Kathakali and dance performances. martial art Kalaripayattu.
The village, located on the idyllic backwaters of Kottayam district, has the Vembanad Lake to its west and is also bordered by the Meenachil River.
Kerala Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas acknowledged the recognition saying, “Aymanam may be a small village, but its pristine charm is spellbinding and its cultural diversity spectacular. Until recently it was a largely unexplored area for tourists, but its recognition as a model RT village has changed its profile on the world tourism map. Recognition by Conde Nast is a huge testament to that.
“This is an important recognition that will inspire us to build momentum in our efforts to implement responsible tourism projects across the state,” he added.