En Ooru, Wayanad: Ticket Price, Timings and Booking Guide

En Ooru (also spelled Enooru) is Kerala's first tribal heritage village, set on a 25-acre hillock at Pookode in Wayanad district, beside the campus of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. The site recreates a tribal settlement with hay-roofed huts and gives Wayanad's indigenous communities a permanent space to sell their produce, stage their art forms and serve their food. It is a joint project of the Kerala Department of Tourism and the Scheduled Tribes Development Department.

This guide covers the current ticket prices, timings and booking rules published by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) Wayanad, followed by what to see inside and practical tips for a visit.

The fares below are taken from the official DTPC Wayanad page for En Ooru. Every visitor above 3 years of age needs an entry ticket. The shuttle jeep fare is charged separately, because private vehicles cannot drive up to the village.

Estimating the Cost for a Group

For two adults, the basic cost is ₹180: ₹100 for two entry tickets plus ₹80 for two shuttle rides. Adding one camera ticket brings the total to ₹330. The special jeep and special Tavera options suit groups that prefer a dedicated vehicle instead of the shared shuttle. For a group of eight, the special jeep at ₹320 costs the same as eight individual shuttle fares, so confirm at the counter how the hire works before choosing.

En Ooru is open every day of the week, with longer hours on weekends and public holidays.

Offline Booking at the Counter

According to DTPC Wayanad, only offline booking is available for En Ooru. Tickets are sold at the counter near the entrance gate of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University at Pookode, which is also where the shuttle jeep starts. Neither DTPC Wayanad nor Kerala Tourism lists an online booking portal for the village at present.

Steps on Arrival

Official Contacts

Tribal Huts and Village Layout

The centre of the site is a cluster of traditional huts with mud walls and hay roofs, set against the surrounding hills. They are built using methods practised by Wayanad's tribal communities, with local materials such as bamboo, earth and dried grass. Footpaths link the huts, the market and the performance area, so the whole village is explored on foot at an easy pace.

Amphitheatre and Tribal Performances

An open-air theatre seating about 300 people hosts performances by tribal artists. Programmes include Thudi Thalam, a drum-based rhythm form, Mavilan Pattu songs, and demonstrations of traditional archery. The venue also hosts tribal food and art festivals during the year. Show schedules are not published online, so ask at the counter which performances are running on the day.

Tribal Market

The market gives tribal farmers and artisans a permanent place to sell directly to visitors, so purchases support the community. Stalls also display traditional medicines, and a warehouse on site collects handicrafts from artisans across the district. Common items include:

Tribal Food

The cafeterias serve dishes cooked by tribal staff using forest plants, edible tubers, wild greens and millets, alongside familiar Kerala meals. What is on offer depends on seasonal availability, so check the day's options at the counter. A meal here is one of the more distinctive parts of the visit, since many of these ingredients rarely appear on regular restaurant menus.

Management and Purpose

En Ooru is run by the En Ooru Charitable Society, chaired by the District Sub Collector, with 13 tribal leaders from the Vythiri and Pozhuthana panchayats on its committee. The model is cooperative: income from tickets, the market and the cafeterias supports the tribal members who run the village. Published reports put direct and indirect employment from the project at around 1,050 people. Beyond tourism, the centre supports training in organic farming, the preservation of traditional food processing knowledge and the use of indigenous languages.

Project Timeline

Best Time to Visit

October to February brings cool, dry weather that suits the walking involved. From March to May the exposed hillock gets warm by midday, so morning visits work better in summer. June to August brings heavy monsoon rain to Wayanad, which makes the paths slippery and can disrupt access. Weekday mornings are the least crowded. Weekends and holidays draw larger groups, although closing time is extended to 6:00 PM on those days.

Visitor Tips and Rules

Time Needed

A visit usually takes two to three hours, covering the shuttle ride, the huts, the market and a meal. En Ooru combines well with Pookode Lake and the Lakkidi View Point, both a short drive away, for a half-day plan in the Vythiri area.

En Ooru offers a structured introduction to the culture of Wayanad's tribal communities, and money spent at the village goes directly to the people who run it. The official DTPC Wayanad page is the most reliable place to confirm current fares and timings before a trip.