Thenmala – Kollam

THENMALA – KOLLAM

Thenmala    decodes into a lyrical sounding of ‘Honey Hills’, as “Then” means honey and “Mala”  means hillock. The honey collected from Thenmala forest region is of rich quality and of high medicinal value because    of    the   unique floristic composition   of the forests.    Thenmala,   a    region   placed  72 kms from Trivandrum, is a small village on the eastern side of Quilon (Kollam) district was being promoted as first planned ecotourism destination in India.    The    Department of Tourism in the Government  of India, has taken steps to give focused attention to ecotourism in the State.     As   a  result, a project for the first   planned    ecotourism    destination     (Thenmala Ecotourism Project)    has been  formulated.
The    mantra    of   the   Thenmala   Ecotourism    Promotion    Society (TEPS)    is  to   understand    and   appreciate     the       environment     without    causing      any    disturbance    to     the    balance   of  the    eco – system. Various zones have been    created by    TEPS so that tourists are spreaded over an area and the environment is not burdened.  “Thenmala Ecotourism” has been  conceived as a first   planned ecotourism destination in India and the initial stages of implementation is completed.
Attractions

Culture Zone

The    main   highlight    of    the   cultural  zone is the Musical Fountain. It is a synchronized   open – air rhythmic ballet of water,    sound and light.  The musical fountain literally dances to   grooving   songs. Minimum 20 audiences are required for a show.

There   is    an    Amphi – theatre for folk art and other cultural performances. The women of this region have shopping stalls selling forest products, handicraft items and much more.

Leisure Zone

The leisure zone includes the area of the canal downstream between Kallada dam and the bridge. It has a huge pathway, sway bridge and garden with beautiful sculptures.    Take a leisure walk on the pathway along the river front and relish the charm of Thenmala hills. A forest hike leads to the sculpture garden which has magnumopous statues. There are also deep woods for soft   trekking and biking programmes which extends from two to four hours.

Nakshatravanam (Star Trees)

There  is a nursery of trees that is considered sacred to the   27 constellations,    located   inside one   of the zones. This is an innovative way of caring for the environment. Visitors can take back   a  sapling  of the tree relevant to their birth star. This project is based on the ancient   belief   that it is  auspicious for one to    plant   a    tree corresponding to   one’s asterism .    Once you buy the sapling of your lucky tree, pictures of the tree at different stages of its growth will be sent to you. There is even a software the will help you to find your group of stars and the corresponding tree.   

Deer Rehabilitation Centre

Here, we can see sambar, spotted and barking deer. These animals are fed and restored in a fenced area. There is also children’s eco – park with swings and treetop huts.    You  can also walk along the banks of the Kallada River by the side of the enclosure. 

Rock shelter

This is    a   cave that was inhabited during the    pre  -  historic age. This cave has rock engraved designs similar to Edakkal cave dating back to the Mesolithic age.    Microliths,   small stone tools made of milky white quartz, can also be seen in the ground around the shelter.

Spiritual Tour

There   is an   eco-tourism trip for religious people, connecting the Ayappa  temples in the region.    You can see Lord Ayappa in three different incarnations in three different temples.   These   three shrines of Lord Ayappa are seen in temples of Kulathupuzha, Aryankavu and Achankovil,    which  falls withi n the project area. The temple of Aryankavu depicts Lord Ayappa as a bachelor.    In the  Achankovil temple, you can see Lord Ayappa as Dharmasastha with his consorts, Poorna and Pushakala. Though originally constructed by the Raja of Pandalam, the present day structure of Sree Dharmasastha was made by the Raja of    Kottarakkara.          A   unique    feature of this   temple is    the    feeding   of   fish.    The   Vishnu   Mahotsavam, celebrated in the month April – May, is the most important festival.

Adventure zone

If you   are adventurous, the adventure zone presents a multitude   of   activities    like     trekking,   bird watching, mountain biking and rock climbing. An elevated walkway; a wooden stairway at  120 metres above sea level, climbs tree- canopy level to the Thiruvananthapuram – Chenkotta Road. There is also a Lotus Pond that showcases different forms of aquatic plants. Arm yourself with a   pair of   binoculars and you can see a host of birds. At the end of the pathway, there is a sheer rock face for   climbing  and rappelling. Ropes are tied at great heights across the river for    audacious river activities.    This    zone tests your physical prowess. 

Boating in the reservoir

Take   a   battery powered   vehicle   ride from   the   facilitation centre.   It   you opt for early   morning   or   late evening boat ride, you will see herds of elephants ambling along the wooded waterfront.
Way to Thenmala

Location: Situated in Kollam district, it is adjacent to the Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary.

Road: Thenmala is at equal distance form both the cities, Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. It takes two – hour drive to reach this wonderland. There are regular buses from Kollam, Kottarakkara and Punalur.

Rail: Thenmala has a metre gauge. The nearest gauge station is Kollam, which is about 66 kms away.
 
Air: The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, at 80 kms distance.

Periyar Tiger Reserve – Idukki

Periyar Tiger Reserve – Idukki
Thekkady    in   Idukki district is tantamount with wildlife, hills and spice plantations. The Periyar  Tiger Reserve is perched in Cardamom hills of Thekkady.      The   Periyar Lake, in the centre of the   sanctuary forms the nucleus of the reserve. Boating through this region provides a most delightful way of spotting elephants and avifauna for which the park is renowned.

You   can   see   herds of elephants   ambling up and down the hill slopes, frolicking in water  and  coming down to the shore for a drink. Herds of gaur, sambar and wild boar can often be spotted in the   distance gazing in the grasslands. The Periyar Valley, a great place for animal lovers, bird watchers and trekkers, is also a holiday option for families.

The    unique    aspect that makes the growth   of  Periyar Tiger Reserve successful is the initiative taken   by the government to involve the natives of the region in the project. The local villagers,   ex- pilferers and groups of women living on the fringes of the forest protect and preserve the forest. Till today, they have been successful in their efforts.

Most    of    the   eco tourism   programmes of the forest department are geared towards protection and conservation. Ex- pilferers have become guides and protectors.    A women’s group called ‘Vasantha Sena’, make voluntary patrols into the forests. They contribute to forest protection by reporting   the day-to-day happenings and  registering with the authorities any sign   of   encroachment or   poaching. When the India Eco Development Project came to an end in 2004, a charitable society   comprising of officials and citizens formed the Periyar Foundation in 2005.

The evergreen grasslands with deep woods are enormously found in this area.    Here we have the  rare Podocarpus Wallichiana plant, which is known as South Indian conifer.   There is a horde   of   activities developed for adventurous trekkers and ecologists.

A walk to see the Adorable Nature

 A   walk    towards the nature or guided day trekking through the best trails in the area is a  memorable experience.    You     will be escorted by   trained guides cum trackers who provide us with information about the forest. The tramp crosses many  deciduous and evergreen forests which are infused with the soggy land. This activity allows us to be very near to Mother Nature. It is a three hour trekking.

Trail to Periyar Tiger Reserve

This   activity  has trudging and camping where poachers act as guides because they are   quiet  familiar with the corners of the forests. Apart from assisting trekkers to the camp and cooking food,   they   also enlighten us about the biota of the Reserve. There are minimum camping facilities, so the trekkers   are expected to bring their travel kits.   The    most  attractive feature of this programme is the  prohibition  and apprehension of the illegal activities in the forests. 

bamboo groves, thatched seminar hall, Bamboo Rafting, Night Camping, forest cottage, farming, bullock carts, Jungle Inspection, Kumily
 
 

Bamboo Grove

You will be exposed to typical tribal hovels which are built in bamboo groves. The forest department conducts various activities for nature – lovers.     There   is   a    thatched   seminar hall where different programmes are coordinated.

Bamboo Rafting

This plan is conducted from morning till evening. It consists of trekking and rafting through some of the copious forest belts of Periyar Tiger Reserve. It is two hours trekking and one and half hours   of rafting. During this programme, we get a real picture of the dense forest and a great chance to spot big animals.

Night Camping

Visitors who visit to the camp can stay in the forest cottage at Kokkara. You can watch the surroundings coming alive with twitter of the birds.

Old Disclosures
You have the opportunity to visit various farmlands in Periyar, where you get information regarding the old methods of farming like using of bullock carts for ploughing.

Jungle Inspection

Travellers also get a chance to help the forest department in preserving these animals, birds and precious forest.
Way to Periyar

Location: Situated on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, Periyar Tiger Reserve is about 4 km from Kumily town.   Timing: 6 am to 6 pm

Road: Fortunately, Thekkady can be easily approached by road. Thekkady is just 5 km from Kumily on NH 220. Kumily’s Bus Terminal has regular buses to all the major cities in Kerala. Thekkady is on SH 19, connecting Munnar to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Rail: The nearest railway station is the Kottayam Railway Station, which is 114 kms away.

Air: The nearest airport is the Madurai Airport (145 kms), then it is the Cochin International Airport (190kms) at last it is the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (275 kms).

Parambikulam – Palakkad

Parambikulam – Palakkad

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary in Nelliyampathy claims of the first ever scientifically managed teak plantation   and    the famous Kannimara teak tree,   which is the world’s tallest and oldest teak tree. Apart from the surprising  array   of    flora and    fauna,   this sanctuary offers challenging hill ranges for trekking and vast lakes for boating.    Parambikulam   is a great birding  retreat too and was known to be the favourite haunt of the legendry ornithologist, Salim Ali.
Parambikulam   is   a   hiker’s cloud nine. With its diversity of habitats spread   all  across the  sanctuary, Parambikulam offers an infinite range of hiking combinations like Soft trekking,   Medium  trekking and Tough trekking. These are differentiated on the basis of their length, duration and   difficulty  of terrain. Trekkers are escorted by trekking guides who will brief them about the flora and fauna.

Consorted Hiking Activities

Soft Trekking
Elephant Song Trail: – It is 6 kms trekking and the trekking starts from Anappady – Karian Shola and back to Anappady.

Peacock Trail: – It is 6 kms trekking and the hiking starts from Anappady – 4000 point – Seechali Vayal – Thunacadavu.

Flying Hooves: – Trekking length is 8 kms from Parambikulam dam site – Kothala – crossing Parambikulam River – tramway line and then back to Parambikulam.

Kannimara Trail: – Trekking length is 8 kms from Thunacadavu – teak plantations – Kannimara vayal – Kannimara teak – Thunacadavu.

 Medium Trekking
Tarantula Trail: – It is 10 kms trekking and the journey begins from Parambikulam – tunnel entry – evergreen forests – Vengoli viewpoint – rock point – Thunacadavu.
 
Bison Trail: – Trekking length is 10 kms from Anapaddy depot – TP block 1 – Chettivara – Seechali – 4000 point and then back to Anappady.

Dr. Salim Ali Trail: – it is 12 kms trail from Parambikulam dam site – tramway – Kuriakutty, back to Parambikulam.
Tough Trekking
Sundew Trail: – it is 12 kms trail from Parambikulam – Earth Dam – Teak plantations – bamboo break – evergreen forests – grassland – Karimala Peak – Kalyanathee – Parambikulam.

Amphibious Trail: – Its 20 kms hike which begins from Parambikulam – Tunnel entry – waterfall – Alamaram – Velayudhankai – return back to Parambikulam through Bamboo raft.

Hornbill Trail: – the length of the trail is 20 kms which starts from Anappady – Karian Shola – grassland – Pandaravaramalai Peak – return back to Anappady through inter state boundary.
Adventure Trekking

Needle Peak Trail: – Trekking length is 20 kms from Keerappady – Valley – Naikarkadu – Kuchimudi peak – back to Keerappady.
Rocky Ridge Trail - Trekking length is 25 kms from Parambikulam coupe road – Vengoli peak – Rocky Ridge – inter state boundary – TP block 1 – Anapaddy.

Way to Parambikulam

Location: Parambikulam Sanctuary is located in Chittur Taluk of Palakkad district.

Road:  It is 39 kms from Pollachi and 98 kms from Palakkad and 102 kms from Kochi.

Rail:    The nearest railway station is at Palakkad Railway Station.

Air:      The nearest airport is Coimbatore International Airport.

Neyyar – Thiruvananthapuram

Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary – Thiruvananthapuram
 

Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary has a rugged terrain interspersed with gushing brooks, gentle slopes and meadows. The Neyyar River originates from the Agasthya Peak, which is enclosed by an irrigation dam called Neyyar Dam. The Agasthya mountain range supports a wide variety of plant   species;   including some valuable medicinal plants and the diversity of its flora along with a variety of forest types make it an ideal gene pool reserve. The divergent forests range from tropical evergreens, mixed deciduous and southern hill forests to sub – tropical savannahs and reed breaks.
The    courageous    and    fascinating     activities    arranged   here     are boating, trekking and Crocodile  watching.     There is a Crocodile Protection  Centre where crocodiles  are looked after.       A medicinal garden near the Crocodile Protection Centre has 180 varieties of   plants.    The Boat    Club coordinates boat rides that would take visitors at least from 2-6 islands which are   easily  traversable.    En voyage, from here you can spot pachyderms,   sambar and  the    surmounting   Agasthya    Mountains.  The most audacious and trilling experience is the safari at the Lion Park.    The    bird  watchers can have an exciting vista of    innumerable  birds. You can hike towards the lofty    Agasthya Peak with the prior permission from the Forest Department. 
Way to Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Location:       This    sanctuary    is   located 30 kms east of Thiruvananthapuram through Kattakakda.

Road: Neyyar Sanctuary 21 kms east of  Thiruvananthapuram city and it is well connected with cities.

Air: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is the nearest airport which is 38 kms away.

Rail: Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station is the nearest station to Neyyar which is 30 kms away.

Konni – Pathanamthitta

KONNI – PATHANAMTHITTA

Drastically    different from modern    cities is   the town of   Konni, which lies at a dozen kilometres from Pathanamthitta   district.     It is also    the main    entry point to the    dense forest bordering the district. Earlier,    wild    elephants    caught    from    the    forests   were brought   here   and put into a cage known as ‘Aanakoodu’ and they were trained and tamed for work. Due to the prevalence of pachyderms, many houses    in    this   region    were    previously built on raised wooden  stilts that have now been replaced by concrete beams.

Konni is blessed with a popular centre for elephant training. Elephant training dates back to early years when the Maharaja of Travancore reigned here. But today this practice of taming catches  the attention of tourists who are very fond of these gentle giants who can be incredibly sociable.

Konni is mainly an agricultural terrain which is rich in cash crops and also very established for its royal elephant ride and Aanakoodu. This elephant training centre is a haven for the elephant enthusiast. Built in1941, it is one of the oldest elephant training centres in India. It is very interesting to    watch the way these elephants behave here. In comparatively confined spaces    and  relatively new    kinships   among other elephants, these mighty heroes also learn how to interact with human beings.

You    can    also    see    baby    elephants  that are fed, bathed and trained. They are the star attraction of this place.       By   seeing them   playing and enjoying, every traveller becomes an admirer of this buddy chap.

Ecotourism in Konni

Here, we have an Elephant Museum which is a historical museum specifically based on   elephants.   The Elephant Camp acts as a bull’s-eye for ecotourism   activities.    Various locations nearby   has  also been developed as camp sites, which is approachable only through hiking. There are many trekking activities which takes place here.  Audacious trekkers who go for trekking    are assisted by   trained   guides.    The eco –     tourism    provides a half    –    day trek to the    forests    like    Kurichi,    Chayarpandy  and  many more. Peruvally region near the Kallar River is an enchanting place for relaxation.

There   is    also    a   one   day hike to points like Kattathi, Kottampara and Aluvamkudy.      Then we have refreshing programmes for you, which are    deep inside   the   forest of     Manalar   -Kumbhavurutty    at Achankovil that can be reached by two days of trekking.

 Way to Konni

Location: This wonderful forest region is located in Pathanamthitta District.

Road:       It is about 10 kms distance from Pathanamthitta.

Rail:         The nearest railway station is Chengannur Railway Station, which is about 35 km away.

Air:           Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is 110 km away and Cochin International Airport is 165 km away from Pathanamthitta.

Gavi – Idukki

Gavi – Idukki

Gavi is a lively place where you can go trekking, bird watching, outdoor camping and boating. En route to     Pullumedu    Peak is the place where    you can get the fantastic view of the Sabarimala.  Some of the places nearby that are worth visiting are Kullur, Kochu Pamba, Pullumedu and Pachakanam. The Nilgiri Tahr    can   be   seen at  Kochu Pamba.    Gavi    offers    a wonderful  holiday gift for the travellers like night safaris,    wildlife   sight-  seeing and     outdoor   camping.     Hence, this place is an    El   Dorado for environmentalist and wildlife lovers.                                                 

The  Kerala    Forest     Development     Cooperation has initiated  Gavi Eco – Tourism    Project which has attracted innumerable tourists to this destination. The major visitors among them are ecologist and courageous hikers. Gavi now has risen to a highly  demanded   destination   in     Kerala.      The ‘Alistair International’ is a universally acclaimed leading eco – tourism centres.

The main feature of this project is that, there will be an active participation of the natives who  play the roles of guards, guides, gardeners and cooks.   This will provide them   employment  as  well   as   create awareness for the preservation of environment.     This   terrain    is    bounty with various tropical trees, meadows, waterfalls and plantations. It is also a paradise for bird watchers.
 
Camping in the dense forest is also an interesting thing.      Travellers can make a tent and stay one night amidst the   wild animals.       It’s really a hair – raising experience!!!       We can   also choose tree top houses where we can enjoy some memorable moments. 

Way to Gavi

Location:     Gavi is located about 28 km from Vandiperiyar, which is 18 km from Thekkady.

Road:           Gavi is well connected with road networks.

Eravikulam National Park – Idukki

Eravikulam National Park – Idukki
Eravikulam National Park is perched in between the Anamudi Peak and the Kanan Devan hills,  which  is a pictographic place.The Shola grassland over here is tremendously plentiful with orchids and balsams. The Neelakurinji flower (Phlebophyllum kunthianum), which is the rarest flower in India that blooms in every 12 years.    Locals    as     well as travellers  wait for the arrival of this moment of time, so that they could witness the enhanced beauty and charm of Munnar carpeted fully in lavender colour. We can also see a plethora of the red rhododendrons and flame of the forest here. An orchid named ‘Brachycorythis wightii’ which was thought to be extinct was recently rediscovered in this park.

There    are    25   species of mammals among which 5 are endemic to the Western Ghats. More than 120 species of birds and 100 odd varieties of butterflies have been reported here.   There are also the   Atlas Moth and 20 species of amphibians which adorn the park.

The picturesque   view of the valley  from the park is really ebullient! However, the buffer areas are out of bounds for visitors. Even hiking is not permitted in these regions.    Travellers are allowed only up to Rajamala, which is a high apex of rocky cliff that is approachable by vehicles.    The   Lakhom Falls trails provide   a   day    trek    from the waterfall to    Pakkumarathery,   where we can sight the wonderful and majestic Anamudi Peak.  The Eravikulam Park offers opportunities for Rainbow Trout Angling.

Way to Eravikulam National Park

Location:       The   National   Park is   on the boundary line of Indira   Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Munnar.
 

Road:   Munnar is the nearest town (13 km). Eravikulam is well connected by roads from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Rail: The nearest railway station is Aluva and Coimbatore Railway Station.

Air: Eravikulam is approachable from Cochin (148 kms) as well as Coimbatore (175 kms) Airports.

Eco Tourism

Eco – Tourism in Kerala    
 

Eco – tourism is one of the rapidly growing industries in Kerala. Ecotourism has flourished because Kerala   has many     destinations     renowned    for its    natural    elegance    and  exclusive topography. Distinguished with the epithet of   ‘God’s Own Country’,  Kerala has to sustain and develop  its  eco – friendly tourism. Royal treasures of matchless natural attractions make Kerala a supreme  paradise for ecotourism.

Kerala is a land where coconut fronds rustle with the tales of an ancient past, where the ocean   breeze murmurs the legends and the rhythmic splashing of oars gives birth to poetic notion.  Blanketed   with greenery and criss – crossed by numerous rivers, this was a land that was fashioned by God and gifted to the human beings. While the people of this land cherish this gift they   inherited.     Its   geographical location makes it a foot – holding destination from the rest of India.

Some of the famous eco – tourism destinations are Thenmala, Thekkady, Eravikulam, Neyyar, Parambikulam, Gavi, Konni.

Tags: Kerala, god’s own country, eco – friendly tourism,   paradise for    ecotourism,   Thenmala, Thekkady, Eravikulam, Neyyar, Parambikulam, Gavi, Konni, 
 
 Ecotourism is a growing area in the tourist friendly state of Kerala. Ecotourism in Kerala has taken off in a    big way    because    Kerala has   many   destinations known for their natural beauty and exquisite landscape. Kerala is one of the greenest destinations in India.   The landscape is covered with coconut palms in the coastal areas. The paddy fields shimmer with the    emerald  green    of    new shoots.    The banana plantations are filled with the whisper of waving green banana leaves.  The tea  plantations  are  a   green blanket that cover the hill ranges as far as the eye can see, in the Western Ghats in Kerala and the    backwaters   are   fringed   with    Pandanus  plants   that    trail the    tips of their long leaves in the rippling water, as you float by. You can appreciate the verdant beauty of Kerala on Kerala tours   with Kerala backwater.

The wildlife sanctuaries of Kerala are popular  ecotourism  destinations.     Tourists from all  over   the   world come to see tigers, elephants, deer and animals native to the Malabar region, such as the Nilgiri Tahr,   in the   wildlife      sanctuaries  of Kerala including Periyar, Wynad, Silent Valley and Eravikulam wildlife sanctuary on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater.

In   recent    times the rubber plantations and tea estates   have  also opened their doors to tourists  who travel to Kerala, seeking a green getaway. The Portuguese, Dutch, French and English colonial rulers of Kerala established the plantations of Kerala during colonial times. The crops they introduced to Kerala include rubber, grown for its latex, and tea – England’s favorite drink.   These crops grew and flourished in Kerala’s pleasant climate. Sheltered from the sun by tall trees, the plantations and their lodges,  offer tourists a relaxing getaway on Kerala tours.     You    can  visit   the plantations of Kerala on ecotourism vacations in Kerala and Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater.