Tourism around the rice fields

Yesterday evening the family members of TD John took me out to show me a few places around Thrissur. Although I was not keen that they be my tour guides, given that in the morning there was a funeral in the house, they were keen to show me around, this being my maiden visit to Thrissur. 

We drove around the ship-model Church, Church of St Thomas, the cross and campus at St Aloysius College and a couple of their family homes. A trending tourist attraction they took us through was the rice fields, irrigated through Kole farming!! There is this vast zigzag area where there is the water canal and the rice fields on either side of it. Half the year these rice fields, I'm told, are lakes. In the summer when the water level goes down, the land is used to cultivate paddy. Makes sense! 

However, with the growing popularity of reels and youngsters posting videos on social media, this rather laborious work place is now a tourist destination! I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of the actual farmers have also set up stalls along the narrow banks because sale of snacks and tea at such places is more lucrative and income fetching than farming. 

As one of the family members stated, in another couple of months, these 'photographers' will find another place, making it viral and this place will be forgotten. 

Tourism around rice fields! Sounds weird, but if it raises some awareness and conscientization about traditional farming, nothing to complaint. Also if it is to understand the science and history behind the technique of utilising natural resources in a most creative and efficient manner, then it's really worth it.