FIELD TRIP TO KERALA ART AND CRAFT VILLAGE,KOVALAM

     FIELD TRIP TO KOVALAM ART AND CRAFT VILLAGE 

 INTRODUCTION

As part of the First Year B.Ed (Arts Education) curriculum, our class undertook an educational field trip to the Kovalam Art and Craft Village on 26th November 2025. The field trip was designed to give us direct exposure to the traditional art forms, craft practices, and unique artisanal techniques of Kerala. The visit offered an opportunity to understand how various handicrafts are produced, the cultural significance behind these crafts, and the livelihood of artisans who preserve Kerala’s heritage through their skills.

This experience proved to be both enlightening and inspiring, as we observed a wide range of craft traditions—from woodwork and textiles to metalwork, pottery, terracotta, bamboo craft, mural art, and much more. The field trip enriched our understanding of art pedagogy and provided us with practical knowledge relevant to the context. 

DETAILED FIELD TRIP REPORT

Arrival and Orientation

We reached the Kovalam Art and Craft Village in the morning. The campus was filled with lush greenery, spacious walkways, beautifully designed huts, and shops displaying traditional crafts. After a brief orientation from the staff, we started exploring the stores one by one.

 Mini-Theatre Experience

Inside the mini-theatre, we watched a documentary video that highlighted:

The history and objectives of Kovalam Art & Craft Village

The programs, workshops, and exhibitions conducted there

The role of resident artisans

The cultural and economic significance of handicrafts

Community outreach and craft preservation efforts

This video helped us understand the relevance of the village as a space that blends tradition with contemporary creativity.

Group Division

After the video session, teachers divided the students into three groups, assigning each to a different gate to explore all stores effectively. Our group was guided through a well-planned route to cover major craft sections.

EMPORIUM

The first major stop was the Emporium. At the entrance, we saw an impressive 3D painting by artist Elias, which attracted great admiration for its depth and realism.

Inside the Emporium, a vast collection of craft items from across India was displayed:

Tibetan handicrafts and artifacts

Marble statues and stone carvings

Egyptian-style decorative pieces

Ceramic vases, bowls, and figurines

Teakwood and softwood sculptures

Miniature statues

Mirror work accessories

Handbags, pouches, and decorative items

Cosmetics, essential oils, flower décor

Microscopic gold Ganesh sculpture

Nano and micro-level artworks

The Emporium functioned as a multicultural craft hub, offering everything from traditional items to contemporary lifestyle crafts.

ART GALLERY

Photography was not allowed inside the Art Gallery. It featured:

Traditional paintings

Modern art pieces

Folk and tribal art

Photographs and mixed-media works

Kerala mural-inspired artworks

The gallery helped us understand how visual art can be curated and presented in educational and cultural spaces.

 DETAILED OBSERVATIONS OF THE CRAFT STORES

1. Disability Montage

The Disability Montage store showcased an inspiring collection of artworks and utilitarian objects created by differently-abled artisans and students. The display included woven textiles, painted panels, hand-made greeting cards, simple wooden toys, stitched accessories and mixed-media pieces. Explanatory labels described the adaptive tools and techniques used, such as modified looms, grips, and simplified stitch patterns. The store highlighted the therapeutic and vocational value of craft-making, demonstrating how inclusivity in craft practice can foster skill development, self-confidence and economic independence.

2. Musical Instruments Store

This shop presented an array of handcrafted and locally produced musical instruments, ranging from tabla sets, frame drums and small percussion instruments to locally made guitars and stringed folk instruments. The instruments illustrated traditional construction methods—woodturning for bodies, leather-stretching for drum heads, and careful tuning techniques. There were also smaller educational instruments and rhythm-makers ideal for classroom music activities, which showed the close relationship between craft skill and musical heritage.

3. Teak Wood Craft

The teak wood craft store featured finely carved teak items, including ornate boxes, miniature furniture, decorative panels and small sculptures. Artisans showcased joinery, carving, sanding and polish techniques that exploit teak’s rich grain and durability. Several pieces illustrated how grain direction and finishing choices (varnish, oiling) affect aesthetics and longevity, making this store a valuable resource when considering woodworking projects for higher-secondary craft lessons.

4. Quilled Paper Craft

This store exhibited an extensive selection of paper-quilling artworks, patchwork quilts, applique panels and handcrafted greeting cards. The paper-quilling examples demonstrated precision in rolling, shaping and layering strips to create floral and geometric motifs. Quilts displayed various stitching patterns, colour coordination and patchwork design—useful references for classroom units on textiles, pattern-making and recycling materials in craft projects.

5. Coconut Shell Craft

Products made from coconut shells included polished bowls, lamps, jewelry, decorative animal figures and souvenir trinkets. The artisans explained the stages of processing—cleaning, cutting, polishing and finishing—and how heat and natural oils are used to bring out the shell’s sheen. The store emphasized sustainability, turning agricultural waste into attractive, marketable objects and offering practical models for eco-crafts in schools.

6. Coconut Husk (Coir) Craft

The coconut-husk or coir craft outlet displayed mats, coir baskets, door mats, small rugs and ornamental items. Demonstrations and labels explained how fibers are extracted, spun into coir, braided and woven to form durable household products. The tactile quality and sturdiness of coir items underscored local material knowledge and the potential for low-cost, eco-friendly classroom projects.

7. Uru Craft

The Uru craft section showcased miniature models and carved representations of the traditional Uru boats of Kerala’s Malabar coast. The models highlighted boat-building joinery, hull shaping and traditional motifs used in boat decoration. Display panels outlined the historical significance of Uru construction, its maritime craftsmanship, and how large-scale boat-making techniques can be adapted into scaled-down educational models for lessons on regional craft identities.

8. Glass Craft

Glass craft displays included blown glass vases, paperweights, fused and stained-glass panels, and decorative ornaments. Explanations covered processes such as glassblowing, slumping, fusing and cold-working (engraving, polishing). Many pieces illustrated how light interacts with glass colour and form—an excellent visual aid for teaching about material properties, translucency, and colour theory in art classes.

9. Laminated Wooden Craft

The laminated wooden craft store presented objects produced by layering thin veneers or wood laminates to create patterned boards and durable surfaces. Items included boxes, trays, decorative wall pieces and toys that showcased veneer marquetry and laminated patterning techniques. The display explained adhesive selection, press methods and finishing—useful for demonstrating modern woodworking techniques that balance aesthetics and functional strength.

10. Terracotta and Ceramic

This store featured earthen terracotta pots, clay lamps, hand-sculpted figurines and high-fired glazed ceramic wares. Labels described the differences between terracotta (low-fired, porous, earthy finishes) and glazed ceramics (high-fired, vitrified surfaces), plus basic forming techniques—pinch, coil, slab and wheel-throwing. The variety of finishes and surface decorations provided rich examples for pottery assignments and lesson plans on modelling and firing.

11. Handloom Village

The Handloom Village displayed handwoven fabrics, sarees, towels and shawls produced on traditional looms. The exhibits highlighted dyeing techniques (including natural dyes), warp and weft organization, and motif design typical of Kerala’s weaving traditions. Demonstrations and loom diagrams made the process accessible, offering direct curricular links to textile-based craft units and cultural studies.

12. Cane Craft

This section displayed intricately woven cane furniture, baskets, lampshades and storage boxes. The displays explained how cane is harvested, soaked to increase pliability, split and then woven into functional forms. The strength, lightness and eco-friendly nature of cane products were emphasized—useful reference material for sustainable design projects in school craft curricula.

13. Hammock & Jewellery Craft

A breath of contemporary craft practice was visible in the hammock and jewellery section. The hammocks were hand-knotted using macramé and woven techniques; decorative tassels and colour-block patterns illustrated modern aesthetic adaptations. The jewellery included thread-wrapped, beaded and metal-accented pieces—good examples of small-scale wearable craft projects students can recreate using inexpensive materials.

14. Rosewood Craft

The rosewood shop displayed dark-toned, finely polished rosewood carvings, from statuettes to ornate panels. Techniques included relief carving, inlay work and oil-based finishing to enhance the wood’s natural depth. The richness and density of rosewood pieces lent insight into traditional carving practices as well as issues surrounding timber sourcing and conservation.

15. Whitewood Craft

Whitewood items showcased lighter-toned carvings and painted wooden toys—often preferred for detailed, delicate carving because of the wood’s softer grain. The displays included child-friendly toys, simple furniture and decorative pieces with painted or toned finishes, illustrating how finishing choices transform simple forms into appealing products.

16. Pooram Craft

Pooram craft focused on festival-related objects associated with Kerala’s temple processions—miniature caparisons, umbrella models, drum replicas and colorful ornamental paraphernalia. The store explained festival iconography, textile embellishment and the role of craft in ritual performance, making it a valuable resource for lessons on local culture, symbolism and decorative tradition.

17. Aranmula Kannadi

The Aranmula Kannadi exhibit was a culturally significant highlight. The traditional Aranmula mirror is a handmade metal-alloy mirror produced in Aranmula, Pathanamthitta district. It is created by carefully alloying copper with a specific proportion of white lead, followed by skillful hammering and polishing to produce a highly reflective surface. The craft is transmitted through generations, and the mirrors are revered for their clarity, longevity and ritual importance. The display included historical context and a description of the secrecy and precision behind the polishing techniques.

18. Bamboo Studio

Bamboo Studio presented diverse products—lamps, planters, baskets, musical flutes and furniture—demonstrating splitting, steaming and bending techniques. The studio emphasized bamboo’s renewability and versatility, showing how simple tools can transform raw culms into useful, aesthetic objects suitable for school-based sustainable craft projects.

19. Kerala Mural Arts

This section displayed mural paintings inspired by temple art—large panels, painted narratives and study sketches showing the stepwise process: rough drawing, pigment preparation (often from natural sources), schematic composition and final detailing. The characteristic palette, iconography and stylized human forms demonstrated storytelling through muralism—useful for classroom projects exploring narrative art and traditional visual languages.

20. Nettor Craft

Nettor craft included lacquered boxes, jewel chests and other small wooden artifacts finished with decorative metal or paintwork. The store explained traditional varnishing and inlay methods, and how Nettor-style ornamentation is used in ceremonial and domestic contexts. These artifacts demonstrated fine finishing techniques ideal for lessons on surface treatment and small-object design.

21. Kora Grass Mat

The Kora grass mat store exhibited handwoven floor-mats, bed covers and decorative wall pieces made from kora grass. The weave patterns, natural hues, and finishing methods (flattening and edge-binding) were displayed. Kora mats are breathable and eco-friendly; the store emphasized local plant knowledge and sustainable harvesting practices.

22. Metal Craft

Metal craft included brass and bronze sculptures, ritual lamps, ornamental plates and small utensils. Process displays explained casting methods (lost-wax, sand casting), chasing and polishing, and patination techniques. The rich metallic finishes and traditional iconography were educational for students studying material transformation and devotional art.

23. Dry Flower Craft

The dry flower shop displayed wreaths, framed botanical art, table arrangements and decor objects made from skillfully preserved flowers, leaves and seed pods. The craft requires patience in drying techniques, adhesives, and composition—useful exploration for lessons combining botany, aesthetics and decorative composition.

24. Screw Pine Craft

Screw pine (pandanus) leaf craft showcased hats, bags, placemats and wall hangings. The process—leaf collection, sun-drying, softening and weaving—was described. These products highlighted a long-standing utilitarian craft tradition and offered an accessible material for student projects focused on weaving skills.

25. Jute Craft

Jute craft featured bags, table runners, wall organizers and decorative objects made from braided and woven jute fibre. The store emphasized jute’s biodegradability and affordability, with examples of dyeing, printing and applique applied to jute surfaces—practical inspiration for environmentally conscious student craft activities.

26. Spice ion)Store (Top Port

The spice store at the top-most portion was an aromatic, sensory-rich stop. Shelves displayed Kerala’s signature spices—whole and ground pepper, green and black cardamom, cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg, dry ginger, turmeric, curry leaves and blended masalas. Informational cards covered cultivation regions, traditional uses, and basic processing (drying, grading). The immersive smell and tactile sampling reinforced local agricultural heritage and offered cross-curricular connections (food studies, chemistry of aromas).

27. Memento Store (Top Portion)

The memento store offered a curated assortment of souvenirs and small gift items suitable for tourists and visitors: carved wooden figurines, miniature metal sculptures, keychains, fridge magnets, printed postcards, decorative plates and handcrafted showpieces. The range demonstrated how traditional craft forms are adapted into tourist-friendly formats and highlighted merchandising strategies such as packaging, price-pointing and gift presentation. Lunch Break and Nature Park Visit

After visiting these stores, we had lunch consisting of biryani and ice cream.

Post-lunch, we explored a nature-friendly ground—a peaceful area with rocks, greenery, a small pool, bamboo trees, and a garden.

There were multiple steps like a gallery where we sat, talked, and took many photographs.

The natural environment provided relaxation and bonding time among classmates.

Visit to Spices Store

Next, we visited the spices store at the upper area of the village.

It displayed a wide range of Kerala spices such as:

Pepper

Cardamom

Cloves

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

Turmeric

Dry ginger

Bay leaves

Mixed masalas

The aroma of spices highlighted Kerala’s rich agricultural heritage.

Visit to Memento Store

The memento store contained numerous gift items and souvenirs made of wood, metal, ceramic, and natural materials.

Students bought small memories such as keychains, magnets, pen stands, and miniature sculptures.

Flower-Making Workshop

Around 2:30 PM, a staff member conducted a flower-making workshop.

We learned to make artificial flowers using a thin, soft material extracted from a particular type of wood.

It was a unique craft technique, and we enjoyed learning and practicing it.

The experience helped us improve our creativity and hands-on skills.

Pottery Workshop

Next, another staff member taught us how to make pottery using clay.

We learned shaping techniques and wheel pottery basics.

Many of us, including myself, made small clay pots.

This was one of the most memorable parts of the day, as it allowed us to create something with our own hands.

 OVERALL OBSERVATIONS

The field trip provided us with:

A deep understanding of Kerala’s traditional crafts.

First-hand experience of artisan techniques.

Increased appreciation for handcrafted products.

Opportunities to interact with artisans.

Creative inspiration for our future teaching career.

Joyful memories with classmates in a natural environment.

Hands-on training through flower-making and pottery workshops.

OVERALL LEARNING OUTCOMES

Improved understanding of India’s traditional craft practices

Appreciation for sustainable materials and eco-friendly crafts

Exposure to multiple classroom-friendly craft activities

Awareness of artisan livelihood and cultural heritage

Hands-on experience in flower-making and pottery

Enhanced creativity, observation, teamwork, and communication skills

Understanding the role of craft in education and society

CONCLUSION

The field trip to Kovalam Art and Craft Village on 26th November 2025 was an enriching, educational, and memorable experience.

We explored a wide range of traditional crafts, interacted with skilled artisans, and gained practical knowledge beyond classroom learning.

The workshops enhanced our creative confidence, while the natural surroundings offered relaxation and bonding moments.

Overall, the field trip successfully fulfilled its objectives and significantly contributed to our understanding of arts education, traditional craftsmanship, and Kerala’s cultural heritage.