Archive for April 2016

Chellarkovil, Kumily

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Chellarkovil, Kumily
Chellarkovil is a small sleepy village situated 15km north to Kumily in Idukki district. The village is in the Anakara Panchayath which is located on the Kerala – Tamil Nadu border. It is known as the best eco-tourism spot in Idukki. The picturesque beauty of the mountains, waterfalls and greenery all around is a unique experience for the tourists. The cascading waterfalls of this village emerge in Kerala state and fall into the Tamilnadu region and provide irrigation to the vegetation throughout the path. The place is situated 1200m above the sea level. The nearest railway station in Tamilnadu region is Theni and it is 60km away. In Kerala region is Kottayam and is at a distance of 109km from Kumily. Cochin and Madurai airports are close by and at a distance of 140km approximately. Local bus service is available from Kumily town directly to Chellarkovil. The village slopes down to the eminent coconut groves of Cumbum, in Tamil Nadu. 


In 2008, the eco-tourism project was launched here with the minimal funding from the eco-tourism council and the forest department. The villagers took the initiative in this project. In this project a number of huts, path ways, watch tower, herbarium of medicinal plants and a tourist amenity centre are built for the convenience of tourists. The watch tower is equipped with a telescope in its balcony and it is known as ‘God’s own balcony’. The view of sunset and sunrise from the balcony is awesome. Tourists can enjoy guided tour to spice garden and Ayurvedic garden. Tree top huts are built as a part of the eco-tourism programme. Trekking is another attraction of Chellarkovil. Home stays are available for tourists to have the experience of village life in the high ranges. The income generated from these activities is mainly used for the environment protection and afforestation. People can visit this high range area except the heavy monsoon time of June and July. From the top of Chellarkovil people can see the panoramic view of Theni and Mangaladevi (highest point of Periyar Tiger Reserve).
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Tree Houses in Kerala

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Tree Houses in Kerala
 
Tree house is called as ‘Erumadam’ in local language and means a house made on tree top with all basic amenities. These were used by the hunters for keeping their food and weapons safely while they had to stay back in forest. Tree houses can be fixed on a platform around the tree trunk or branch. In earlier days these houses were created by different tribal people for self protection from wild animals in the forest. Now these are mostly used for leisure, recreation, work space, housing or as observation tower. The important feature of the tree house is that it does not harm the surroundings in the forest area and heavy alterations are not required in the trees to arrange one house. Tree houses in Kerala are mostly used for short time stays by visitors and it is widely accepted by adventure loving people. These are tastefully designed and built with eco friendly materials like bamboo, coir, hay straw and normally has a height of 20-90 ft above ground level. Sometimes these huts will have live trees passing through as an initiative taken to minimize the alterations to the environment. Fastening with ropes or nails, usage of stilts or stay rods or struts are the different methods of fixing the tree house on the tree tops. Tree house attachment bolt (TAB) is a new development that can support more weight than earlier methods and is widely used now. Wooden stairs, hanging or fixed ladders are used to go up and down. As per requirements the tree houses are prepared with facilities for children, work space, play structure or as fully functioning homes. Adventure tourism Kerala is popularising the usage of tree houses to more people and many resorts and hotels are coming up with these options in the premises for the tourists. Even some households in Kerala have tree house in their courtyards.
 
Wild life stay at Kerala is mostly enjoyed at Munnar, Thekkady, Athirapally waterfalls and Wayanad. Tree houses are usually built near the forest area to keep the natural environment charm as it is and huge trees give magnificent view from the top. It provides a day in the middle of green forest and leisure time away from the stress and difficulties of everyday life. Some luxurious tree houses even offer the facilities of TV, Internet, Computer and other modern equipments to enjoy the stay. The farm houses Kerala is a modern initiative to promote eco tourism and has a peculiarity of having a tree house in the premises which offer the stay in the middle of nature. 
 
Parambikulam Tiger reserve at Palakkad has a tree house at Thoonakadavu, the reserve forest area. Advance booking facility is available here.  Utharam Kayam located near the Neyyar dam in Thiruvananthapuram managed by the Forest department has an accommodation arranged in a tree house for the visitors. Many resorts have tree house which offers stay in the middle of greenery and natural habitat. Rangerwood Nature Castle Machan near Periyar wildlife sanctuary at Thekkady, Tranquil Plantation resort in Wayanad, Hiliya Resort at Kenichira in Wayanad, Marmalade Springs at Chembara peak in Wayanad, Dream Catcher Resort in Munnar, Nature Zone Tree house resort in Munnar, Rainforest Resort at Athirapally, Carmelia Haven at Vandanmedu in Thekkady, Green Woods Resort (Vanya Tree house) in Thekkady, Vythiri resort at Wayanad, are some of the main resorts that offers a luxurious stay on tree tops. Forest stay in Kerala is made well-known to the world with the modernization of the tree houses from the earlier storage places to luxury homes.
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Mathikettan Shola Rain Forest

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Mathikettan Shola Rain Forest

 
Mathikettan Shola Rain Forest also known as Mathikettan Shola National park is located in the Poopara village of Udumbanchola taluk of Idukki district of Kerala state. It is spread across 12.82 sq.km and very rich in flora and fauna. In 1897 the Travancore Government declared Mathikettan Shola as a reserve forest. Part of the land was leased for Cardamom plantations before it was declared as the National park on 21st November in 2003. The declaration took place to protect the ecological, floral, faunal and geographical wealth for the coming generations. The word Shola is derived from Tamil language and it means a thick forest combined with huge trees and grass land. This combination makes way for bio diversity and cool climatic conditions. Mathikettan in local language means ‘mind confuser’ and people say that one forgets the path after entering the forest.
 
People can reach Mathikettan Shola National Park from Poopara via Munnar through the Munnar – Kumily Highway. It takes approximately 1.15 hours and the distance is 34 km from Munnar. Another road to reach Poopara is through the Idukki - Kothamangalam route. Poopara is 85km away from Kothamangalam and it takes approximately 2.30 hours to travel this distance. From Kochin airport it is 130km and from Madurai airport it is 120 km to Mathikettan Shola National Park. Munnar and Nedumkandam are the close by towns. Kottayam is the nearest railway station and it is at a distance of 150km and takes 4.30 hours to reach. Poopara has ample lodging facilities for the visitors.

The forest receives both south-west and north-east monsoon heavily which is a solid factor of the richness in vegetation and wildlife in this limited area national park. The forest is full of greenery and Bhesa Indica, Callophyllum austro-indicum, Syzyium gardneri, Chionanthus ramiflorus and Litsea wighteana are the dominant trees in this forest. The mosses, lichen, aroids, ferns and orchids cover these trees. Many varieties of birds, mammals, butterflies and reptiles are abundantly found here. The commonly seen animals are Elephant, gaur, wild bear, sambar deer, wild dog and jungle cat. The richness and diversity of the park resembles that of Anamudi Shola National Park along the Western Ghat area in Idukki district. Also this is one of the well known Elephant corridors in Kerala. Mathikettan is considered as an ideal place for the environment education. The only tribal community living in the Mathikettan Shola National Park area is Muthuvan. Trekking is the main attraction here which gives a unique opportunity to observe the wild animals and biodiversity of the plants and trees. Permission from the forest department is required for trekking. Guided tours are operated for the visitors and November to March is the best period to explore the rain forest.
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