Kelokedara Village is part of a special environmentalist tourism project, dealing with concepts known as “sustainable” and/or agro-tourism. The main aim is to help local village economies participate in tourism without changing their traditional lifestyles. The village lies on the eastern slope of the Xeros River. In Kelokedara, there were less than 300 inhabitants with an average age of 55 years old in 2001. Young people are leaving the village to go and work in the towns. During the Ottoman Period (1571-1878) and the period of British colonial rule (1878-1960), the village served as an administrative centre for the area and therefore one still finds such facilities as an old police station and a courthouse. The abandoned primary school is now used as a cultural centre. A short time will be given to wander around the village and enjoy the typical Cypriot architecture and atmosphere, found only in such remote areas of Cyprus.
The Village Bus: Some things just keep on running, like this old Bedford “chicken bus,” still in action with Mr. Christodoulos as the driver. Mr. Christodoulos bought the bus new in 1969, and for the past 34 years he his bus acted as a life-line for the village, transporting villagers down to the towns and urban centers. In the old days, this bus was the only means for locals to go do their shopping or for older students to reach their school in Paphos. The village bus also supplies the village with the necessary supplies and brings in the daily post.
Sindi Monastery: This is an abandoned 16th century monastery, which has been restored by UNESCO. In 1997 this restoration project was granted the prestigious EUROPA NOSTRA award and was recognised as a World Cultural Heritage monument. It is surrounded by some of the most spectacular landscape in Cyprus. Watermills: There are ruins of four watermills in the area, remnants of an era long past, when wheat and barely were cultivated widely and abundant amounts of water flowed regularly through the valley. Now the river is flowing only during the winter months December to May and is dry during the rest of the year.
