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Thursday 21 May 2015

GAVI ECO TOURISM, GAVI ECO ECOTOURISM DESTINATION KERALA, ECO ECOTOURISM IN KERALA

GAVI ECO TOURISM
Gavi is a beautiful tourist destination, inside the ranni reserve forest in Pathanamthitta district. It is part of the Periyar Tiger reserve and situated 28 km south west of Vandiperiyar and about 3400 ft above the sea level. These evergreen forest has emerged the most famous wildlife, adventure and eco-tourism destinations of Kerala. It often serves as a base camp for birdwatchers, deep jungle trekkers and nature lovers. Gavi Eco Tourism is a project of the KFDC (Kerala Forest Development Corporation) and all the facilities to the tourists are providing by them .

The main attraction of Gavi Eco-Tourism project is the thick forest with the wide variety of flora and fauna. You can see a number of dams on the way to Gavi from Pathanamthitta, they are Seethathodu, Mooziyar, Kochu pamba and Gavi dams. The forest are abundant with wildlife including elephants, Indian gaur, leopards, tigers, bears, barking and mouse deers, Nilgiri Tahrs, lion tailed macaque, Nilgiri marten and other varieties of monkeys. This place is a heaven for birdwatchers. There are more than 300 varieties of birds including the great Indian hornbills, woodpeckers, sunbirds, dongos, kingfishers and myriads of mynas, cuckoos and bulbuls. Here also having different variety of plant species and butterflies.

Once you reach Gavi the serene eco-lodge 'Green Mansion' awaits you like a fairy to embrace you in its protective fold. From the 'Green Mansion', one can savour the spectacular view of the Gavi Lake and the adjoining forests. Besides the accommodation provided in 'Green Mansion' visitors can also try out the tree houses here and can even pitch tents amidst the wilderness. Here one can have outstanding trekking experiences, which are overseen by trained local people. Those who would love to be left alone can do so in the tranquil environs of Gavi or may even go canoeing in the placid waters of the lake or enjoy a breathtaking sunset. Visitors are usually provided vegetarian food and snacks, which further adds to the eco-friendly ambiance of the place.

The place is rich in flora and fauna. There are hills and valleys, tropical forests, sprawling grasslands, sholas, cascading waterfalls and cardamom plantations. Endangered species including the Nilgiri Tahr and Lion-tailed macaque are often sighted at the outskirts of Gavi. With more than 260 species of birds including the great pied hornbill, woodpecker, and kingfishers, Gavi is a heaven for birdwatchers.

Some of the breathtaking viewpoints at Gavi like the Valley View offer spectacular view of a deep ravine and the forest below. From Kochu Pampa, a point near Green Mansion eco-lodge one can track the grazing Nilgiri Tahrs.

The famous pilgrim destination, Sabarimala is a short trek from Gavi. For those interested in observing the nocturnal wildlife, night safaris to Kullur, Gavi Pullumedu, Kochu Pampa, Pachakanam provide ample opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Another unique feature of Gavi is camping in the forests. One can pitch a tent in the camping site, which is a rarity in many Indian forests. As the dusk stretches into the silence of the night, one can feel the presence of wildlife in the middle of nowhere, an experience that cannot be explained in words. There are also tree top houses where one can enjoy the avian life to the fullest.

Active involvement of tribals in Gavi makes it a unique venture of its kind in the country. Traditional knowledge of the forest and its way of life helps Gavi to sustain its surroundings in its original state.

Gavi is bound to cast its magical spell on every visitor and is surely a place that should not be missed in one's lifetime. Gavi is pristine, and it belongs to the wild, which is a reminder that visitors are responsible for their intentions and actions, which will have a bearing on the upkeep of Gavi for a long time to come.
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