|
Young World
And on that farm he had some fruits...
M. RAGHURAM
|
Go on an eco education tour that promises fun and adventure.
|
Growing goodness...
Mangalore
The once enigmatic Western Ghats now is an open book for the discerning trekker. It is one of the 18 hotspots for the conservation of bio-diversity in the world. What's in store for the youngsters here? There is a base camp at Gundia, a 20 kilometre trek into the dense forests.
The forest department has also carved out a trekking route from the Gundia forest gate to the Pushpagiri mountains. The trekking track passes through some breathtaking passes in the ghats and some of them pass through the elephant crossings and wildlife reserves and further into the `Tiger Country' bordering the neighbouring Nagarahole range. The 30-kilometre trek takes eco-tourists through a wonderland of rare plants, trees, insects, reptiles and wild animals. This part of the Western ghats, which is a storehouse of over 300 herbs and medicinal plants endemic to the region, also provides an opportunity to the young eco-tourists to learn about them.
But not far away from the thick jungles on the short plains the hikers and eco tourists can enter another wonderland — this time it is fruits, exotic flowers, expanses of pineapple fields, spices gardens, black berries and mulberry trees, wild cherries, succulent Rambutans and even savour some Australian, Canadian and American fruits that are rarely found elsewhere dangling from the trees. The place is none other than the Soans farms in Moodbidri. Very near Soans Farms is the areca nut garden of Dr. Mohan Alva who has taken up intercropping of Areca nut with spice nutmeg and cloves. Dr. Alva an Ayurvedic doctor, treats visitors with generous portions of freshly plucked `Jamboos' (a juicy greenish tropical fruit). His Ayurvedic medicine-manufacturing unit is located nearby and for those wishing to see authentic Indian medicine being made, this is the place.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Young World
|
