Aaranyakam Eco Cafe

About this place

Aaranyakam Eco Cafe is a forest-side eatery at Peruvali on the Konni–Thannithodu Road in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, offering traditional local food in a setting surrounded by greenery. The cafe operates under the Konni Forest Development Agency and is associated with the Elimullumplackal Forest Protection Committee’s self-help group, with seven women from the local community involved in its operation. The facility was inaugurated at Peruvali in October 2024 and operates beside a bamboo hut on the Konni–Thannithodu road, placing it within an area connected with the forest and eco-tourism landscape around Konni and Adavi. Aaranyakam Eco Cafe is particularly notable for combining local cuisine with a community-based tourism initiative. Its menu focuses on traditional Kerala food, with dishes prepared using locally familiar ingredients and regional cooking methods. Depending on availability, the meals can include preparations using idichakka, jackfruit, jackfruit seeds, papaya, banana flower, cheera and other seasonal ingredients, along with dishes such as chakka erissery and different varieties of thoran. Boiled tapioca, or kappa, is another featured food, with preparations including different styles of cooked kappa. Breakfast options reported at the cafe include ela ada, kozhukatta, dosa and idli, providing visitors with familiar Kerala dishes at different times of the day. The food experience at Aaranyakam Eco Cafe is closely connected with the surrounding forest environment, making the destination relevant to travellers interested in local cuisine, nature tourism and community-based experiences in Pathanamthitta. Seating near the cafe includes spaces beneath umbrella-like structures made from traditional bamboo basket forms, allowing visitors to spend time in the outdoor setting and experience the surroundings near the Kallar area. The cafe is also situated in the broader travel corridor associated with Adavi eco-tourism, where visitors explore forest landscapes and activities connected with the river and surrounding natural environment. Rather than functioning simply as a roadside restaurant, Aaranyakam Eco Cafe represents a local livelihood initiative connected with the Forest Department’s forest development activities and the participation of women from the surrounding community. The cafe had previously operated from a temporary shed before a more permanent building was constructed with funding from the Forest Development Agency; the new facility began operations again in November 2024 after construction was completed. This development provided a more established setting for serving traditional food to visitors travelling through the area. For travellers searching for Aaranyakam Eco Cafe, an eco cafe near Adavi, traditional Kerala food in Thannithodu, or places to eat near Konni eco-tourism destinations, the cafe offers an opportunity to combine a regional food experience with a forest-side visit. Its location also makes it relevant to visitors exploring Konni, Thannithodu and the wider Pathanamthitta tourism circuit. The emphasis on seasonal ingredients and traditional dishes gives the cafe a connection with Kerala’s everyday culinary culture, while its women-led community operation adds a social dimension to the visitor experience. Current menu items, prices, operating hours and availability can change, so visitors should confirm these details before travelling. Aaranyakam Eco Cafe is therefore best understood as a community-oriented forest dining destination where visitors can experience traditional Kerala cuisine in the natural surroundings of Peruvali, while also supporting a local women-run livelihood initiative linked with forest-based tourism in the Konni–Thannithodu region.

🚆 Railway: Chengannur Railway Station (~41 km)

✈️ Airport: Cochin International Airport (~130 km)

🚌 Bus: Thannithodu Private Bus Stand (~3 km)

🏨 Stay: Gavi Paradise Homestay / Kutties Residency / Hotel Konni Gate

✅ Notes: Aaranyakam Eco Cafe is located on Konni–Thannithodu Road in Thannithodu (Plus Code 6WX6+WVC), with Thannithodu serving as the practical local transport point.