Lenscape Kerala: Touring Kerala Through Photographs

Lenscape Kerala is a travelling photographic exhibition that showcases 100 curated images across the state’s landscapes, heritage and coastal life. This article outlines the exhibition’s launch, its route, the creative team behind it, and the potential impact on tourism and marine activities.

Launch and concept

The exhibition Lenscape Kerala was inaugurated by P A Mohamed Riyas, Minister for Tourism, Government of Kerala, and presents 100 curated frames produced by 10 leading Indian travel and media photographers. Conceived as a moving exhibition, it aims to bring Kerala’s visual narratives—its backwaters, beaches, heritage sites and festivals—to audiences in major Indian cities.

The opening took place at the Travancore Palace Gallery in New Delhi, with senior officials in attendance, including Suman Billa, IAS, Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Sreedhanya Suresh, IAS, Additional Director (General), Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala. Curator Uma Nair and photography director Balan Madhavan have guided the selection and presentation of the works.

Exhibition itinerary and access

The exhibition is open to the public in New Delhi from 11:00 to 19:00 on January 21–23, and will travel to nine other cities between late January and March 2026. The tour includes metropolitan and regional centres to reach a diverse audience of travellers, photographers and culture enthusiasts.

Photographers and themes

The exhibition features work by Aishwarya Sridhar, Amit Pasricha, H Satish, Kounteya Sinha, Manoj Arora, Natasha Kartar Hemrajani, Saibal Das, Saurabh Anand Chatterjee, Shivang Mehta and Umesh Gogna. Their portfolios document a wide range of Kerala’s offerings, including nature, monsoon moods, heritage, coastal life, cuisine, festivals and spirituality.

• Nature & backwaters: tranquil canals, houseboats and wetland biodiversity.
• Monsoon & weather: dramatic skies, rain-soaked landscapes and seasonal activities.
• Heritage & culture: architecture, temple rituals and traditional crafts.
• Coastal living: fishing communities, harbours and beachscapes.
• Culinary scenes: local markets, street food and traditional feasts.

Purpose and expected outcomes

Lenscape Kerala is designed to function as a visual invitation, encouraging travellers to rediscover Kerala beyond headline attractions. Minister Riyas has indicated an intent to make the exhibition an annual feature, rotating themes and contributors—such as women photographers, youth collectives or international visual artists—each year.

Officials see the exhibition as a tool to highlight experiential tourism, promoting not just places but the immersive activities and stories that make travel memorable. By bringing curated photography to urban audiences, the initiative seeks to stimulate travel planning, cultural interest and a deeper appreciation of local communities.

How the exhibition links to coastal and marine tourism

Many frames emphasize Kerala’s coastline, backwaters and fishing communities. These images can provoke interest in coastal activities—boat excursions, backwater houseboat stays, fishing experiences and visits to marinas and beaches. The visual portrayal of serene waterways and bustling harbour life is likely to inspire both domestic and international travellers to consider Kerala’s marine offerings as part of a broader experiential trip.

Brief historical context

Kerala’s tourism story has long been tied to its natural assets—the backwaters of Alleppey, the hill stations of Munnar, and its long coastline along the Arabian Sea. Since the late 20th century the state promoted Ayurveda, ecotourism and responsible tourism initiatives, building an international reputation for wellness and nature-linked travel. Photography and visual storytelling have been used repeatedly as tools for destination marketing, with images shaping perceptions of authenticity and motivating travel choices.

Over recent decades, Kerala has also invested in infrastructure such as improved road access, regional airports and enhanced hospitality offerings, while encouraging community-based tourism to preserve local cultures. Exhibitions like Lenscape Kerala fit into this trajectory by creating curated, narrative-driven encounters with the destination that can precede a traveller’s on-the-ground experience.

Practical implications for travellers and operators

For travellers, the exhibition offers a low-commitment, high-inspiration way to plan future trips—identifying beaches, backwater routes, festivals and lesser-known cultural sites. For operators—hotels, tour companies and boat charter providers—such publicity often translates into increased enquiries for themed stays, boat rentals and activity bookings.

1. Photographs can trigger demand for specific experiences (backwater cruises, fishing tours).
2. Curated imagery helps niche markets—wellness, culinary tourism, and photographic tours—target motivated travellers.
3. Media exposure in major cities increases the likelihood of seasonal bookings and charter interest.

Visitor tips

Viewers attending the exhibition should note the range of themes and consider what kind of trip they want to pursue—heritage walks, houseboat charters, festival visits or coastal retreats. Photographs often highlight ideal times to visit (for example, monsoon lighting or festival calendars), so prospective travellers can align itineraries accordingly.

Lenscape Kerala aims to convert visual curiosity into real-world travel: from marinas and beach towns to inland backwaters and cultural hubs, the exhibition highlights experiences that appeal to adventure seekers and contemplative travellers alike. As Kerala’s images circulate across cities, the potential uplift for charter operators, boat rentals and local activity providers grows—enticing visitors to explore the sea, ocean, lakes and waterways with captains and crews who bring these scenes to life. For those planning yachting or boating activities, the show underscores destinations and activities where a charter or day trip can deepen engagement with Kerala’s culture and landscape. For more on planning sailing, yacht charter or boat rent options inspired by the exhibition, visit GetBoat.com — an international marketplace for renting sailing boats and yachts, offering choices from simple boat hire to superyacht and charter services across marinas, gulf and coastal Destinations, ideal for sun, sea, fishing, boating and yachting activities.