Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 11 (UNI) An eclectic mix of writers, artists, documentary filmmakers, vloggers, travel enthusiasts, and culinary experts from India and abroad will converge at Varkala for ‘Yaanam 2025’, the inaugural edition of Kerala’s Travel Literature Festival, to be held from October 17 to 19.
Hosted by Kerala Tourism, Yaanam — hailed as India’s first travel literature festival — will feature 33 eminent speakers from across the world, who will share their experiences, ideas, and creative journeys. The three-day event will be held at Ranga Kala Kendram at Varkala Cliff.
Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka and Gratiaen Award-winning Sri Lankan author Andrew Fidel Fernando headline the distinguished list of speakers. The festival follows Kerala Tourism’s recent initiatives such as the Wedding and MICE Tourism Conclave and the Responsible Tourism (RT) Conclave.
With the theme “Celebrating Words and Wanderlust,” the festival underscores the enduring connection between literature and travel.
The speaker lineup includes Grammy Award-winning musician Prakash Sontakke, renowned poet and literary travel writer Prof. Nathalie Handal, Sahitya Akademi Award-winning novelist Benyamin, and acclaimed journalist-author Pallavi Aiyar.
They will share diverse perspectives and personal narratives on exploring and documenting the world through their respective crafts.
Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas said the festival will be a signature event of Kerala Tourism, which continues to gain global acclaim for its innovative campaigns.
“Yaanam is not just a travel literary festival but also a confluence of creative minds united by their passion for travel and exploration. It will also showcase Varkala’s immense tourism potential before a global audience,” he said.
Other prominent participants include Tibetan poet and activist Tenzin Tsundue, journalist and author Sudeep Chakravarti, and celebrated photographer Asha Thadani, who was nominated for the Henri Cartier-Bresson Award in 2015.
From Sri Lanka, award-winning author Ciara Mandulee Mendis and Pramudith D. Rupasinghe, winner of the Golden Aster Prize for Global Literature, will take part. Mendis’ acclaimed travelogue “Gallivanting” chronicles her journeys across six countries, including India, while Rupasinghe — known as “The Writer Without Borders” — has authored works inspired by his global travels.
Representing the new generation of explorers, Afeedha Sherin (22), a solo traveller from Kerala, will share her experiences from Mauritius, including swimming alongside 12 whales.
Bengaluru-based writer Sumaa Tekur, author of “The Monks Who Laughed When the Bumblebee Stung Me,” will speak about her solo journeys to 18 countries.
Adding a culinary dimension to the event will be South African chef Sanza Sandile, founder of Johannesburg’s famed Yeoville Dinner Club, known for blending food with conversations on cultural unity.
Adventure travel will find expression through Piya Bahadur, who will recount her all-woman 17,000-km biking expedition across six countries, captured in her book “Road to Mekong.”
Noted travel documentarians Priya Ganapathy and Anurag Mallick, food expert Karen Anand, travel vlogger Kritika Goel, authors Ullekh N. P., Binoo K. John, Faizal Khan, and poet-performer Madhu Raghavendra are also among the participants.
Conceptualised by author and curator Sabin Iqbal and programmed by writer Nirmala Govindarajan, Yaanam 2025 will also feature curated trails showcasing Varkala’s scenic attractions, along with workshops on writing, photography, and wellness.
The festival promises to be a vibrant confluence of creativity, travel, and storytelling — celebrating the spirit of exploration that defines Kerala’s cultural landscape.
