Top Ten Ecotourism Spots in kerala

by Ramabhadran Sreedharan Web Owner, SEO Consultant.

“The Eco tourism spots has an important role in Kerala Tourism”

Kerala Eco tourism

Kerala “The God’s own country” is also blessed with numerous

Top Eco tourism destinations scattered along with the state. So

many unexcavated treasures of Eco tourism potentials are there.

Joint movements of local people and government departments are

in progress to develop a few of them.

Eco tourism An Overview

Responsible Eco tourism contains activities that minimize the

negative impacts of conventional tourism on environment and the

cultural and social uplift of local people.

A Mexican Environmentalist Hector Cebellos-Lascurian initiated the

system in 1983. He described Eco tourism as nature-based travel to

relatively undisturbed areas with an emphasis on education. The

International Eco tourism Society (TIES) is the world's oldest and

largest international Eco tourism association. They issues various types

of memberships and certifications to organizations, professionals,

students etc. TIES defines Eco tourism is “Responsible travel to natural

areas that conserves the Environment and improves the well being of

the local people.” Various levels of Eco tourism projects are established all over the world as their inspiration.

Top Eco tourism Places in Kerala

There are hundreds of Eco tourism destinations in Kerala with each one have

its peculiar specialties. I am mentioning here only top 10 of them.

1. Thekkady Eco tourism

Thekkady is a top tourist destination in India. Thekkady Eco tourism .is spread over the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Periyar Lake, Mullaperiyar Dam etc. The tourism attractions in

Thekkady includes the boating in the Reservoir Lake which gives a close look to wild

animals, Jungle camping, Bullock cart discoveries, Mullaperiyar Dam, visit to Tribal

colonies, Guided trekking through Tiger Reserve, Vehicle safari, Visit to Tea factory and

Spice garden, Rafting in Periyar River and many more. As per the statitics, around 5 lakhs Peoples are visiting Thekkady every year.

Access to Thekkady from Kochy by road – 190 kms

2. Munnar

Munnar is one of the top tourist destinations in India. It is 130 kms away from Kochy. Kerala Forest Development Corporation initiated some Eco tourism activities in and around Munnar. They arrange comfortable stay in Tribal huts in Valappara and Munnar. They arrange facility to enjoy the enchanting monsoon of the tropics in wildness. Orchidarium and Flower garden on Mattupetty road. Organize Trekking programs in the forest and stay in tents in forest area.

3 Gavi

Gavi is about 40 km away from Thekkady. The road to Gavi is inside the large Tea plantations. Gavi is considered as a heaven of Bird watchers. There are approximately 260 Species of Birds here. We could see Pumpa Dam Reservoir; thick forest with wild animals such as Nilgiri Tahr and Lion tailed Macaque etc. on the way to Gavi. It is one of the must see Ecotourism place in India.

The major attractions in Gavi includes Bird and Animal watching, Boating or Canoeing in reservoir, Trekking to Pullumedu, Kochu Pampa, Kullur, Pachakkanan, Anathode etc and organize night camp at there.

4. Thenmala.

Thenmala is the first Indian Planned Ecotourism project. It attracts many visitors daily. The project situated in Kollam district at a distance of 72 km from Thiruvananthapuram the capital city of Kerala. The main attractions in Thenmala are Sculpture Park, Butterfly Park, Deer park, Adventure zone, Musical fountain, Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary, Boating at Kallada Irrigation Project Reservoir around Wildlife Sanctuary, Public Aquarium, Exhibits of Stone Age tools and articles excavated from Sheduruney Sanctuary.

5. Konni

Konni is an Elephant focused wildlife based Eco tourism spot in Kollam district

situated at a distance of 99 km from Thiruvananthapuram. Elephant cage, ride on Elephant, Elephant training center, Wild animals like Elephants, Wild boars, Bears etc, Elephant history museum, A few Streams which joined together and forms Achancovil River here, Kattathippara, the gignatic rock famous for its triple echo phenomenon, the wild beauty of Konni etc. are the main attraction of Konni. Ancient forest Ayyappa Temples Achancovil, Aryankavu and Kulathupuza are at nearby Places

6. Palaruvi Water Fall

Palaruvi is a beautiful natural water fall inside the thick forest near Aryankavu by the side of schecottai road. It is 17 km apart from Thenmala. The word Palaruvi means stream of milk. Clear water falling through a huge rock at a depth of 91m is a feast to our eyes. Taking a bath in the cool water of the stream and the water fall would be a different experience to everyone.

7. Eravikulam National Park

Eravikulam National Park is 16 km apart from Munnar, the famous hill tourism station of Kerala. Anamudi is the highest peak in South India is here. The Anamudi Peak in Nilgiri Thar has a height of 2694mtrs. It is an ideal place for trekking. The wild animals like Elephants, Sambar Deer, Guar, Lion tailed Macacque are found in Eravikulam.

8. Thommankuthu Ecotourism

Thommankuthu is in Idukki district situated 20 km apart from Thodupuzha. The kuthu denotes the water fall in local language in there. The main attraction of Thommankuthu is a group of 12 water falls inside the forest over a span of 5km. The depth from the first fall to the last fall is about 500m. Idukki Tourism promotion Council developed it as an Ecotourism destination in the year 2004. It attracts a lot of people.

9. Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is at Kannur district. It is the only Wildlife Sanctuary in the northern side of Kerala. The Meenmutty Water fall is the main attraction in Aralam. The other attractions at Aralam are;

Nakshatravanam at Pookund and connected it with a suspension bridge.
Nature Trail facility at Valayamchal.
Bathing Ghat, Bamboo raft boat and coracle boating facility at Narikadavu.
Tree top huts at Pariputhodu Bhoothathankallu.
A View point at Meenmutty Waterfall and the steps to the Water fall are

provided with hand rails for the safety of the people.

10. Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Neyyar Ecotourism Project is the nearest wildlife tourism spot in Thiruvananthapuram City. The forest area around the Killi Dam site is equipped with certain facilities for the Visitors. The Activities includes Crocodile Rehabilitation Center, Deer Rehabilitation Center, Lion Safari Park, Public Aquarium and Fish Breeding Center, Boating in the Dam Lake Etc. They conducts Trekking programs and Nature Camps regularly. Peppara is a

similar Eco tourism place near Thiruvananthapuram City.

Srbhadran, the author of this article is a content Writer and CEO of Web Publishers India. Website:-http://www.popularindiansites.com A website dedicated to publish Info about the best websites in various categories such as Travel, Jobs, Shopping, Classifieds, Matrimonial, Web Hosting, Banking, Education, Healthcare, E-Products, Affiliate Programs etc.