Renovation work of Paravoor market to begin

KOCHI: The renovation work of the Paravoor market, one of the three sites identified under the Muziris Heritage Project as traditional shopping centres, will kick-start on Saturday.The project looks at highlighting the market as a living heritage site, which once served as a trading hub for travellers who visited the Muziris site from across the globe and later settled there.“Earlier, the trade was carried out through the river situated by the side of the Paravur market. Now the water transportation has been converted to road transportation. In the project, we are looking at bringing back the old system back to life. There will be a Visitors’ Centre, one in Paravur town and the other in Kodungaloor, where all the tourists can park their vehicles. From there they will be able to commute to the Paravoor market by boat.The infrastructure will be enhanced to provide a walkway through the market where the tourists can take part in the ‘Chanda’, the traditional weekly bazar, which has been continuing for centuries in the area,” said Benny Kuriakose, who developed the Conservation Development Plan for the Heritage Project.A number of old shops in the market, some of them still retaining their ancient architecture, have been closed down over the years. Such shops will be given incentives for opening again to sell traditional handicrafts, jewellery, spices and other items.The market will be a central point for the tourists. After getting down at the jetty being constructed by the market, the tourists could then walk or cycle to the various other historical sites like Jew Street, North Paravur Synagogue, Kottakavu Church, St Thomas Jacobite Church, Kannangulangara Church, etc.“The work will be done without disturbing the activities of the market or its ambience. ,” said Special Officer for the Muziris Project, P Vijayan. Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar will inaugurate the project.