About Yaanam

Yaanam is our bold effort to celebrate something fundamental to humankind— our insatiable love for journeys, exploration and wandering. For its inaugural edition, the festival has been thoughtfully curated to honour every form of travel, every kind of traveller, and the diverse mediums of travel storytelling. This boutique festival will unfold on the shores of Varkala, at Ranga Kala Kendram on October 17, 18, and 19, 2025.

We are proud to announce an eclectic and distinguished range of guests, including Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka, Grammy Award-winning musician Prakash Sontakke, esteemed journalist and author Pallavi Aiyar, Gratiaen Award-winning Sri Lankan author Andrew Fidel Fernando, and French-American poet and writer Professor Nathalie Handal, who is renowned as a “contemporary Orpheus.” Enriching our discussions with a humanitarian dimension, we have Tibetan poet Tenzin Tsundue, journalist and author Sudeep Chakravarti, and critically acclaimed photographer Asha Thadani. Bringing in a strong spirit of adventure, Piya Bahadur joins us with stories about her all-women biking expedition across six countries and more. The line-up also includes the famous travel and food writer duo Priya Ganapathy and Anurag Mallick, food guru Karen Anand, and trend-setting travel vlogger Kritika Goel, among other accomplished, insightful and exciting names.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Varkala—with its dramatic cliffs dipping into the Arabian Sea, its vibrant cuisine, and its rich history—Yaanam is also a chance to discover the region’s many offerings. Beyond conversations and panels, the festival will host curated trails, workshops on writing, photography, and wellness, and immersive experiences designed to showcase the soul of Varkala.

Yaanam is the product of a deeply committed curatorial team. The festival has been envisioned and shaped by novelist and curator Sabin Iqbal, and programmed by author Nirmala Govindarajan—known for her travel-inspired works—and supported by Sruthi Bhattathiri’s curatorial expertise. Together, they bring passion and experience to create a distinctive celebration of travel.

Come, celebrate travel and the timeless allure of Kerala as a destination at Yaanam 2025!