Situated 67 km east of Kollam, Thenmala is a small village at the foothills
of Western Ghats covered by dense forest, rubber and tea plantations.
In local jargon Thenmala means ‘honey hills’ and the honey collected from
this region is famous for its medicinal value and quality. The major attractions
here are the reservoir, dam and meter gauge.
Thenmala is the first eco tourism destination in India
and the eco-tourist center provides all the needful assistance and facilities
and enables the tourist to enjoy the nature at the very best. To explore
every tourist destination, the region has been divided into culture, leisure
and adventure zones. Musical dancing fountain along with amphitheatre,
shop court and restaurants are the main attractions of the culture zone.
In the leisure zone, sculpture garden, sway bridge, broad walk etc offers
amazing view to the tourists. Besides the sculptures of father and child,
some of the charecters of Indian myths such as Ekalavya, Vikramadithya
and Vethalam are there in the sculpture garden. Adventure zone comprises
of Elevated Walkway, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, River Crossing, Nature
Trails, Resting Spots, Lotus Pond etc.
One of the important resources of Thenmala Ecotourism
is Shenduruney, declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1984, with a large variety
of flora and fauna. Sprawling over an area of 100.32 Sq. km., this deciduous
man made rain forest consists of around 1500 flowering plants, 43 species
of mammals and 475 species of birds. The construction of the Parappar
Dam across the confluence of the Shenduruney, Kazhuthurutty and Kulathupuzha
rivers has resulted in the creation of an artificial lake of about 26
Sq. Km. which spreads along the middle of the sanctuary. Boating through
this lake is the major attraction of the sanctuary.
Palaruvi waterfall that is 16 km from Thenmala towards Shenkotah is mind
blowing.
Contact:
Thenmala Ecotourism Promotion Society,
Thenmala Dam Junction, Thenmala PO 691308 Kollam District, Kerala, India.
Phone: 91-475-2344800
E-mail : Contact
Now
Corporate Office :
Thenmala Ecotourism Promotion Society
(A Government of Kerala Undertaking)
Gokulam, TC 15/1170, Krishnavilasom Road, Vazhuthacaud,
Thiruvananthapuram 695013, Kerala, India
Phone: 91-471-2329770
Fax: 91-471-2337037
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