Sargaalaya Kerala Arts & Crafts Village, Kozhikode Overview

Located near the beautiful backwaters of Iringal near Vadakara in Kozhikode district of Kerala, Sargaalaya Kerala Arts and Crafts village is a wonderful initiative by the Department of Tourism, Kerala. An exquisite blend of brilliant hand crafted designs and age old traditions, the centre boasts of rich craftsmanship displays and some incredible handiworks of local artisans. Sprawling over a vast 20 acres of land with a total construction cost of 15 crores, the village was established on 19th of February, 2011 and was inaugurated by the then Home and Tourism Minister, Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. With an objective to promote tourism along with encouraging the local arts and crafts of traditional Kerala, Sargaalaya Crafts Village gives its tourists an opportunity to witness the live workmanship and artisans at work.

Boasting of over 60 stalls placed in quaint little kiosks, selling various ethnic crafts; the village also houses The Crafts Design and Technology development centre which facilitates training for enthusiastic craftsmen and helps them learn new techniques and skills in traditional handicrafts. Besides, the centre encourages local artisans to sell off their products and safeguards their brands as well. The guests can even learn the nuances and basics of this craftsmanship and take wonderful souvenirs back home. The products are designed with banana fibre, coir, bamboo, sand, coconut shells, husk, palm leaves, coconut leaves and screw-pine and are a masterpiece of wonderful artistry and skill. All in all, a visit to this village is a unique experience and a must visit especially if you are an arts and crafts enthusiast.

Sargaalaya Iringal International Crafts Festival

The village hoists the annual Sargaalaya Iringal International Festival between December 20th and January 5th every year. The festival invites artisans and craftsman from all over the world to display their talents and skills. The best products are displayed and the village blooms with festivities and celebrations on a grand scale. In 2016, over 350 artisans registered for the festival globally. In 2015, over 2 lac people visited to witness the exhibitions.

Facilities at Sargaalaya Kerala Arts & Crafts Village

Besides visiting the stalls, looking at craftsman work live, the tourists are also invited and encouraged to learn basic techniques and skills involved in traditional arts and crafts works. In addition to that, the village has a whole lot of other facilities at bay-
1. The local cafetaria prepares local delicacies for the visiting guests which are a treat to the taste buds.
2. The location of the village is an additional advantage as it provides both pedal and motor boat activities in the Moorad river for minimal charges.
3. The village has 4 auditoriums designed for various functions, ceremonies and workshops. A riverside hall boasting of a serene setting can accommodate 2000 people and is mostly used for family functions. The other halls are comparatively smallers with a capacity of 50, 200 and 600 people respectively.
4. The Children’s Play area is developed for the kids to go all out and have fun while in the beautiful locale of the backwaters.
5. The village also houses a huge aquarium for display.

Best Time To Visit Sargaalaya Kerala Arts & Crafts Village

The best time to visit the village is during the Annual International Crafts Festival happening between December 20th to January 5th.

How To Reach Sargaalaya Kerala Arts & Crafts Village

Sargaalaya Kerala Arts & Crafts Village is situated in Iringal at a distance of about 8 kms from Vatakara in the Kozhikode city. You can reach the village in cabs, autos, taxis and state-run buses. Alternatively, you can drive down to the spot.