Navara Rice is one of India's most ancient and revered heritage rice varieties, endemic to the Palakkad district of Kerala. It is not just a food grain; it is an officially recognized medicinal rice that has been an integral part of Ayurvedic treatments for over 2,000 years.
The grain has been granted Geographical Indication (GI) status, affirming its unique qualities linked to its region of origin.
Navara is prominently mentioned in classical Ayurvedic texts like the Susruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya, where it is honored as a "pious medicinal rice" (Shashtika)