Thenmala Ecotourism Kollam

Thenmala is another attraction for those who love to explore Nature. This is the first planned eco-tourism destination in India. The lush green terrain of Thenmala, dotted with forests and rubber plantations, was selected by the World Tourism Organisation as one of the best eco-friendly tourism projects. It spreads over ten eco-tourism spots that cover the hill ranges of Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Kollam districts.

Eco-tourism programmes are developed through the combined efforts of Kerala Forest Department and a committee of local communities who are dependent on forests. Trekking, boating, tenting, bird watching, mountain biking, rock climbing, rappelling and river crossing are some of the activities in store for adventure enthusiasts. Apart from these, Thenmala also has a leisure zone with winding pathways, a sway bridge, a sculpture garden, a boardwalk, a culture zone with an amphitheatre, and a musical fountain. There is also a deer rehabilitation centre nearby, which is ideal for informational and recreational tours.

Getting there: The nearest railway station is Shencottah, which is about 29 km
from Thenmala.
The nearest airport, Trivandrum International Airport, is about 72 km away