India’s First Travel-Literary Festival ‘Yaanam’ Kicks Off in Varkala, Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: India’s first travel-literary festival, ‘Yaanam’, began today in Varkala, Kerala. Organized by Kerala Tourism, the festival will run until October 19 at the Rangakala Kendram on Varkala Cliff. The event brings together travel, literature, and cultural exchange, aiming to strengthen Kerala’s profile in the global travel literature scene. Writers, artists, and professionals from India and abroad are participating to explore fresh narratives in travel and storytelling.
The festival features a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka, Grashian Award-winning Sri Lankan writer Andrew Fidel Fernando, Tibetan poet Tenzin Zundue, journalist and writer Sudeep Chakravarthy, renowned photographer Ash Thadani, Grammy-winning musician Prakash Sonthakk, poet and travel writer Prof. Natali Handel, novelist Benyamin, journalist-writer Pallavi Iyer, travel documentary producers Priya Ganapathi and Anurag Malik, culinary expert Karen Anand, travel vlogger Kritik Goel, and Sri Lankan writers Siar Manduli Mendis and Pramudith D Rupasinghe. Documentary filmmakers, adventure travelers, and other experts are also contributing, offering a wide range of perspectives on travel and culture.
The festival’s central theme is: ‘Celebrating Words and Wanderlust’. Workshops on writing, photography, and wellness will be held as part of Yaanam.