Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Gavi turns a hot spot for nature lovers Tourism Trail

Thiruvananthapuram: For many, Gavi is a tourist destination in an alien country. Spread across the Periyar Tiger Reserve and situated 41 km from Kumily, Gavi is one of the ‘must-see places’ that has been developed into an eco-tourism destination.

The sprawling grasslands, tropical forests, cascading waterfalls and cardamom plantations make Gavi one of its kind in the whole country. It has found mention in the list of the must-see eco-tourism destinations of Alastair Sawdays ‘India.’ With more than 260 species of birds — the great Indian hornbills, sunbirds, woodpeckers and kingfishers, Gavi is a haven for bird-watchers. The forests have elephants, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, lion tailed macaque and tiger.

Developed by the State-Government undertaking Kerala Forest Development Corporation, the picturesque Gavi blanketed by tree plantations is attracting a steady stream of nature lovers. “We are getting 4,000-5,000 tourists on an average annually and 90 per cent of the visitors who arrive and stay overnight are foreigners,” says Bhanu Vikraman Nair, Assistant General Manager, KFDC.A host of activities await nature lovers at Gavi, which is located on the Pathanamthitta-Idukki border. Trekking, wildlife watching, bird-watching, night safaris through jungle roads, stay atop tree huts, boating in Gavi and Kochupampa lakes and climb to Pullumedu peak to view the Sabarimala Ayappa temple are the major attractions for the visitors.T.P. Narayanan Kutty, Director, Eco-tourism, told The Hindu that Rs. 6 lakh had been sanctioned for setting up various facilities for those arriving at Gavi.

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