Barbara Paul from USA

I have to say the the Theyyam experience with Travelkannur was handled brilliantly.  It was truly a sensational four days that you all arranged for us.  The theyyams you chose for us to attend just could not have been more stunning and moving.  There were many different theyyams at each temple and each one had gorgeous costumes, headdresses, and exceptional drumming.  I was able to photograph them all from up close.  You were very receptive to my requests for small temple theyyams where we could interact with the people and be close to the dancers.  The daytime ones were beautiful, and we could photograph the preparations as well as the dances.  The nighttime one was amazing, as you predicted.  The theyyam running through the huge fire was incredible and it was well worth getting up early for the nighttime atmosphere and fire dances.  The whole trip was a lifetime experience.  We thank you for your fantastic choices and your exceptional driver and guide, who were always on time, extremely thoughtful of our wishes, and very flexible.  We appreciate your attentiveness to all my requests.  You were extremely responsive to all my emails.   Travelkannur certainly has the expertise to provide the ultimate theyyam experience.  To say “thank you” is an understatement.  We feel indebted to you for what you did for us.

We loved staying at Asokam Beach hotel on your recommendation.  The setting by the beach was a wonderful place to relax after the theyyam.

I do hesitate to recommend so highly the theyyam experience at these smaller temples because the presence of too many tourists there could be quite intrusive to the villagers.  So I hope you won’t take more than just a few to each.  It is a very personal and religious experience for the villagers to be blessed by the theyyam dancers, as you know.  I tried very hard only to photograph when other people were doing so also and not to obstruct the blessings.  But I’m not so sure everyone would be considerate in that way.