Sargaalaya Kerala Arts & Crafts Village — Attraction in Kerala

🏛️ Overview & History

Sargaalaya is a government‑initiated craft village run by the Kerala Tourism department and managed by the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS). It opened on February 19, 2011, covering around 20 acres along the banks of the Moorad (Kuttiady) River . The village features 60 craft stalls housed in attractive ethnic cottages built from laterite, showcasing artisans from across Kerala—and sometimes beyond—demonstrating live craftsmanship and selling handmade products .

🛍️ What to Do & See

Walk through the craft huts to see artisans working on pottery, coir, bamboo, wood, metal, palm‑leaf, coconut shell, screw‑pine, and fibre-based products .

Discover a wide array of items—home décor, accessories, kitchenware, textiles, and more—available at reasonable prices compared to city markets .

Optional interactive workshops are offered for visitors who wish to try their hand at crafting under artisan guidance .

🎉 Festivals & Events

The annual Sargaalaya International Arts & Crafts Festival runs from Dec 20 to Jan 5, drawing artisans from around the world. The 2024 edition included participants from over ten countries .

During festival season, temporary stalls and performances add color and vibrancy. Even off-season, the village remains lively with regular exhibitions and artisans at work .

🧸 Facilities & Amenities

Boating on the Moorad River (rowboats & paddle boats available at nominal cost) .

Children’s play area, aquarium, and cafeteria serving local snacks and meals. Clean facilities and ample walking opportunities make it family-friendly .

Event spaces: multiple halls and open-air lawns for conferences, weddings, and community gatherings; guest rooms and dormitory accommodation also available .

👥 Visitor Experience & Reviews

On TripAdvisor, rated around 4.3/5, with travelers noting it as a must‑visit for craft lovers and a “plausible getaway” from Kozhikode, ideal for a few hours’ leisure .

Reviewers praised the craftsmanship, live demonstrations, and the scenic, park-like setting with water and greenery .

A few reviews noted limited communication in non‑Malayalam: few staff spoke English or Hindi, making it harder for non‑local language visitors .

Google reviews highlight smooth parking, decent food, serene ambiance, and affordable boating facilities. One user mentioned “broken kids park” issues—they may be minor and location‑specific .

📌 Practical Info

Detail Info

Location Iringal, near Payyoli/Vatakara, Kozhikode district Nearest Rail Iringal Railway Station (~1.5 km) Nearest Airport Kozhikode (Calicut) Intl Airport (~23 km) Timings 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM (some listings say till 8 PM) Entry Fee ₹50 (Adults), ₹40 (Kids), ₹30 (Senior Citizens) Parking Fee Nominal (₹30) in compound

✅ Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

Immersive exposure to Kerala’s traditional arts and crafts

Affordable entry and shopping prices

Live artisan demonstrations make it educational and engaging

Picturesque riverside setting with boating and greenery

Good infrastructure: eateries, parking, children’s facilities, and event halls

👎 Cons

Most staff speak only Malayalam—limited support for English/Hindi speakers

Off-season pace slower; major activity peaks during festival season

Minor facilities like children’s play area may show wear in some areas

🎯 Final Thoughts

Sargaalaya Arts & Crafts Village is a must-visit attraction near Payyoli for anyone interested in experiential tourism, handicrafts, or Kerala’s cultural heritage. It’s especially good for families and craft enthusiasts looking for an immersive, low-cost outing. Plan extra time if you want to shop, take boating, try workshops, or attend events during the...

SARGAALAYACRAFT VILLAGE

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Starting from the spot of location, everything in Sargaalaya is unique in its own way. It is not only the best of its kind but is the only kind of its type in the surrounding area. They can start with the visit to the main crafts sale point which is a collection of exquisite handicrafts from various parts of Kerala. Later, the visitors have the opportunity to go around the 28 crafts units, were craft items are made; you get to see how the traditional artisans craft the items in front of you. The visitors also have the opportunity to get training for one or two crafts items made in the village. There are facilities of both Pedal / Motor Boating for the visitors. There also functions a cafeteria in the premises that offers you with delicacies to fill your tastes. The spot of Iringal, with its rich natural beauty will give a soothing experience for every visitor to Sargaalaya. The village comes out with Terracotta Sculpture,Terracotta Jewellery, Dry flowers , Cane Furniture, Coconut shell Jewelley, Palm fiber Mat, Coir Jewellery, Sea shell Craft and Seeds Jewellery, Screw Pine Products, Handloom, Handmade Bags, Ramcham, Tripura Bamboo Home décor items and Jewellery , Pooram craft, Glass Art, Pottery,Sculptures , Para Making, Kora Grass mat weaving, Uru Models, Bamboo Craft, Coconut Stem, Clay & paper Objects, Hay Art,  Paper Bags, Immitation Jewelley ,Metal engraving, Wood, Jute, Coconut Jewelley, Herbarium, Kerala Mural Painting, ChannaPattanam Toys, Soft Toys ,Paintings ,Metal Craft Temple art. There are also products from Andra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Nagaland etc.; made by the traditional artisans hailing from these states.

Commercial events take place at 4 auditoriums of various capacities. A riverside pavilion hall that can accommodate nearly 2000, and three other halls with capacity of 50, 200 and 600 people respectively. The infrastructure at Iringal has the potential to exist itself as a Retreat for Corporate Training meetings with Traditional Craft making skills being integrated as a leisure activity during these exercises. The 20 acres provide ample scope for various events and ceremonies with suitable accommodation, workshops and such other necessary infrastructure. This is the common infrastructure for skill development programs and various...

The Sargaalaya Arts and Crafts Village is in Iringal which is less than a kilometre from the NH 66. Turn at the Iringal Junction onto the Kottakkal Road and you will reach the Arts and Crafts Village. There is an entry fee of Rs 60 for visiting the village and for your personal camera a fees of Rs 200.( Cell phone photography is permitted and no charge). There are 28 units in the village and you can see first hand in these stalls the expert artisans demonstrating their skill in front of you. For example there is a unit which makes Terracotta artifacts and you will be amazed to see the various colours given to the terracotta creations. We associate terracotta with a standard reddish colour but here you can see the artifacts in multiple colours. Terracotta jewelry is also another surprise here. There is a unit where Ms Lalitha makes items from screwpine leaves. She makes the items in front of you and you can see the passion and dedication in her work. Baskets, placemats, coasters, handbags, are all in front of you. There is a unit where Mural paintings are done. There are units which make items from cane, bamboo, coir etc. The handloom stall has a loom fixed there and you will see Mr Narayanan operating the loom. He is only eager to explain to you the intricacies of the operation to you, you can see the concentration and pride in what he does on his face. BTW there are lot of national and state award winning artisans here ...all the proud stall holders are experts in their field and deserve all your encouragement. You can buy the artifacts which are hand made from the stall itself. There is also an Emporium where you will find a collection of unique handicraft creations which you can buy at reasonable rates. There is a canteen in the campus which serves excellent food. The building which houses the 28 units is an amazing structure which is made of laterite stone with verandahs all round and extremely customer friendly, you can sit in the stone benches in all the verandahs. From the verandah you can also see the water body which is home to many birds. All in all a wonderful place which all Keralaites can be proud of and all must visit if you are going by Vadakara or NH66. Please don't forget to submit your Bills from the stalls at the Gift counter for a surprise gift. As per the website now working hours every...