THENMALA ECO-TOURISM

As India’s first planned eco-tourism project Thenmala ecotourism destination deserves special mention. One of the most sought after locations by vacationers, Thenmala abounds in lush greenery and evergreen forests of Shenduruney. Tourists who visit the destination can take assistance from trained guards to move around and see the place which is chiefly divided into three zones. The place is 72 kms away from Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital, and 62 kms from Kollam. Two Malayalam words – ‘Then’ and ‘Mala’ – meaning honey and hill respectively, constitute the name ‘Thenmala.’ The route to Thenmala passes through the famous hanging bridge in Punalur which was constructed by the British in 1877.