Thenmala

Thenmala is the first planned eco-tourism destination in India. The Thenmala dam was built across Kallada River. Thenmala is famous for being the shooting location in Malayalam and Tamil movies

Location    : Kollam district in Kerala.
Population: 24,212,(2001)
Area         :    2490 sq km 
The name Thenmala is derived from two words - 'Then' & 'Mala", in local parlance "Then" means honey and "Mala" means hillock i.e. 'honey hills'. The honey collected from Thenmala forest area is of good quality and of high medicinal value because of the unique floristic composition of the forests.Thenmala is approachable both from Trivandrum and Punalur by road. The waterfall called Palaruvi is a prime attraction nearby. Also nearby is a deer rehabilitation center where visitors can see deer in a forest setting and have a peep into a traditional tree house used by forest dwellers to escape harm from wild animals.

                                Eco places in Thenmala                                         
Deer Rehabilitation Centre

Deer Park.

 
This centre was established to protect and conserve the deer that are strayed out from forests. You will find - Spotted deer, Sambar deer, Barking deer here. There are Tree Top Huts for family day spending, Children's eco-park, Short Riverside trek in the Deer Park.

Boating in the Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary
The Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary offers boating facility to its tourists. Tourists are transported to boat landing in battery powered road vehicles through forest to expose them to non-polluting sources of energy. One can see - Elephants, Bison, Sambar etc. while boating. The surroundings exhibit a unique scenic beauty and hillocks of high lush evergreen forests.

Culture Zone
This zone is entirely dedicated to exhibit the culture and tradition of Kerala to the outside world. The Culture Zone hold various activities and events, which is in favour of Ecofriendly General Tourism. There are restaurant, shop court, amphitheater, etc. which plays a major role in helping the tourists understand the Kerala lifestyle. Taste some Kerala cuisines here, while appreciating the exquisite piece of Kerala Art & Culture arranged ornately amidst abundant natural wealth. An open air Musical Dancing Fountain which is considered, as "Natures Dance" is another major attraction here.

Leisure Zone
The Leisure Zone inspires the tourists to explore the inherent qualities of the zone - the drastic level changes, favorable views etc. The boardwalk and the sway bridge canvass promising viewpoints. The plazas, the view deck and the courts flash the tourists to a different framework of landscape. The sculpture garden, water features etc are the additional attractions here.

Adventure Zone

adventure zone Thenmala

The adventure zone is situated about two kilometres from the Thenmala junction. The adventure zone zone features an elevated walkway, rock climb, river crossing, mountain biking, swings and rope ladders.
The walkway takes you to the top of the trees.It is built with wooden planks supported on pillars and it is fitted with railings.
Rock climbing needs equipments.These can be rented for a fee from the park office.They will sent trained guides to help you climb and give you instructions. The attractions in which you can indulge into are the Elevated Walkway, the Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, River Crossing, Nature Trails, Resting Spots, Lotus Pond, etc. The nature trail meandering through various areas of the zone captivates a large number of nature seekers. 

Reaching Thenmala

Air     : Thiruvananthapuram 72 km away.
Rail   : Thenmala connected with Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Kashmir.
Road : 66 km from Kollam town on the Kollam - Shencotta Road, in Pathanapuram taluk of Kollam district.