Thenmala

Thenmala തെന്മല Tenmala
Town
Ottakkal Lookout
Thenmala Show map of Kerala Thenmala Show map of India Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates: 8°57′0″N 77°4′0″E / 8.95000°N 77.06667°E / 8.95000; 77.06667Coordinates: 8°57′0″N 77°4′0″E / 8.95000°N 77.06667°E / 8.95000; 77.06667
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kollam
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Vehicle registration	KL-25
Nearest city	Kollam (63 km)

Suspension Bridge

Parappar dam

Ecotourism walkway

Thenmala is a town of tourist attraction near Punalur town, Kollam district in Kerala, India.

Eco-tourism

Thenmala is the first planned eco-tourism destination in India. The Thenmala Dam is a popular ecotourism destination in Kerala. The Dam, which impounds the largest reservoir in the state which was built under the Kallada Irrigation and Tree Crop development project. The construction of the Parappar Dam across the confluence of the Chenduruney, Kazhuthurutty and Kulathupuzha rivers has resulted in the creation of a beautiful artificial lake of about 26 Sq. Km. which spreads along the middle of the Chenduruny Wildlife sanctuary. It is the second largest irrigation project in Kerala and its waters are now used for power generation.

The Dam and its surroundings is a popular picnic spot. You can do boating in the reservoir, surrounded by the verdant beauty around you. You can buy your tickets at the eco-tourism center. A battery-powered van takes you to the boarding point. It is a pleasant experience to sail down the long reservoir surrounded by the woods of the Chenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary on both sides of the reservoir.

Etymology

Thanmala is derived from Malayalam names of 'Then' meaning Honey and 'Mala' meaning Mountain. Thenmala is famous for being the shooting location in Malayalam and Tamil movies.^{[1] [2]}

Tourism

Thenmala attracts foreign and domestic tourists with a host of attractions. Boating on the lake, a rope bridge, trekking, mountaineering, biking and a musical fountain.^[3] Thenmala is approachable both from Trivandrum and Punalur by road. The Nearest railway station is Punalur. Kollam-QLN is better connected nationally. 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.

Nearby attractions

Other places near Thenmala are Kulathupuzha, Anchal, Punalur, Kamukumchery and Sengottai in Tirunelveli district (Tamil Nadu). Themala is 72 km from Thiruvananthapuram and 16 km from Palaruvi Falls.

Nedumpara

Nedumpara is a scenic place located 7 Km from Thenmala. Harrisons Malayalam Limited has a rubber estate in this place named as Isfield Estate. One of the highest peak of the village is located in Nedumpara, which is locally known as Nedumpara Motta. Ambanad hills is just 8 km from Nedumpara.

References

http://www.thenmalaecotourism.org/ http://www.kumarpalace.com/ tour packages

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thenmala.