Shendumey Wildlife Sanctuary
Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary settled under the core area of Agasthyamala Biosphere reserve (one of the finest biosphere reserves in India), Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most important and notable tourist spots in Kollam. The sanctuary is well-known for its breathtaking beauty of lush forests and crystal clear streams. Acquiring an area up to 171 square km, the main attraction of the sanctuary is lion-tailed macaque attracting visitors from all parts of the globe.
Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary lies south of Aryankavu Hill Station and stretches to a length of about 25km east-west. The Sanctuary Headquarters is at Thenmala, 21kms from Punalur which is the nearest township. The sanctuary is located 75kms away from Thiruvananthapuram and 66kms from Kollam. KSRTC operates bus services to Thenmala at regular intervals from Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. The nearest Airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, 75kms away and nearest Railway Station is Punalur which is 21kms away from the sanctuary.
Shendurney Wildlife sanctuary formed around the Kallida Irrigation Project, the Shenduruny Valley is one of the richest floral areas of Kerala. Sanctuary is acclaimed the world over for its bio-diversity. The tourist season is during the cooler months from October to March.The mean temperature during summer is 35 degree centigrade and during winters it around 16 degrees centigrade, with the annual rainfall is approximately 3200 mm. Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Bear and the Lion-tailed Macaque can be found here. Closely is Tenmalai, where a number of tea and coffee estates can be found.
Flora and Vegetation- The floral diversity is very high with a relatively high percentage of endemism. The sanctuary is home to several rare, endemic and threatened plants such as Dipterocarpus indicus, Calophyllum polyanthum, Mesua ferrea, Mangifera indica, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Vateria indica, Hopea parviflora, Palaquium ellipticum, Cullenia exarillata, Terminalia bellerica, Gluta travancorica ,Garcinia spicata, Elaeocarpus serratum, Cinnamomum verum, Gordonia obtusa, Baccaurea courtallensis, Canarium strictum, Hydnocarpus alpinia , Goniothalamus rhynchantherus, Miliusa wightiana, Meiogyne ramarowii, Orophea uniflora, Erythroxylum lanceolatum, Acronychia pedunculata, Aglaia simplicifolia, etc. The shrubby plants are mostly Dichapetalum gelonioides, Strobilanthus ssp., Lasianthus ssp., Glycosmis macrocarpa, Alpinia malaccensis, Leptonychia caudate, Clausena austroindica, Phaeanthus malabarica, Popowia beddomea, Tabernaemontana gamblei etc,
Rocks and ravines
The wildlife sanctuary at Shendurney is a green valley of splendid forests, situated on the banks of the Shendurney River. Steep and rugged peaks surround the sanctuary, which is dotted by several breathtaking ravines. Gaurs and Elephants which are seen in plenty are the main attractions of Shendurney wildlife sanctuary.On the northern side of the wildlife sanctuary is Palaruvi Wterfalls, a beautiful picnic spot. In the tropical evergreen and mixed deciduous forests at Shendurney, are found a variety of animals.The wildlife population at Shendurney sanctuary is rich in flora and fauna and includes animals such as Elephants, Gaurs, Barking Deer, Cobra, Viper, Python and the Indian Porcupine.
You can reach the Shendurney wildlife sanctuary in Kerala by travelling to Thiruvananthapuram which is at a distance of 80 kms from the sanctuary and 70 kms from Kollam railway station
The Shenthuruni Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of the Thenmala Eco-tourism Project, where 409 species of animals, 248 birds, together 34 types of mammals and 35 reptiles, 42 fishes and uncountable varieties of butterflies and moths are harbored. It is also the habitat of 951 varieties of flora where 219 of them are of medicinal value. The massive tropical evergreen forests got the name of Shenthuruni from a tree that grows only within the forest-the chenkurunji that flowers only once in 12 years.
Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary lies south of Aryankavu Hill Station and stretches to a length of about 25km east-west. The Sanctuary Headquarters is at Thenmala, 21kms from Punalur which is the nearest township. The sanctuary is located 75kms away from Thiruvananthapuram and 66kms from Kollam. KSRTC operates bus services to Thenmala at regular intervals from Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. The nearest Airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, 75kms away and nearest Railway Station is Punalur which is 21kms away from the sanctuary.
Shendurney Wildlife sanctuary formed around the Kallida Irrigation Project, the Shenduruny Valley is one of the richest floral areas of Kerala. Sanctuary is acclaimed the world over for its bio-diversity. The tourist season is during the cooler months from October to March.The mean temperature during summer is 35 degree centigrade and during winters it around 16 degrees centigrade, with the annual rainfall is approximately 3200 mm. Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Bear and the Lion-tailed Macaque can be found here. Closely is Tenmalai, where a number of tea and coffee estates can be found.
Flora and Vegetation- The floral diversity is very high with a relatively high percentage of endemism. The sanctuary is home to several rare, endemic and threatened plants such as Dipterocarpus indicus, Calophyllum polyanthum, Mesua ferrea, Mangifera indica, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Vateria indica, Hopea parviflora, Palaquium ellipticum, Cullenia exarillata, Terminalia bellerica, Gluta travancorica ,Garcinia spicata, Elaeocarpus serratum, Cinnamomum verum, Gordonia obtusa, Baccaurea courtallensis, Canarium strictum, Hydnocarpus alpinia , Goniothalamus rhynchantherus, Miliusa wightiana, Meiogyne ramarowii, Orophea uniflora, Erythroxylum lanceolatum, Acronychia pedunculata, Aglaia simplicifolia, etc. The shrubby plants are mostly Dichapetalum gelonioides, Strobilanthus ssp., Lasianthus ssp., Glycosmis macrocarpa, Alpinia malaccensis, Leptonychia caudate, Clausena austroindica, Phaeanthus malabarica, Popowia beddomea, Tabernaemontana gamblei etc,
Rocks and ravines
The wildlife sanctuary at Shendurney is a green valley of splendid forests, situated on the banks of the Shendurney River. Steep and rugged peaks surround the sanctuary, which is dotted by several breathtaking ravines. Gaurs and Elephants which are seen in plenty are the main attractions of Shendurney wildlife sanctuary.On the northern side of the wildlife sanctuary is Palaruvi Wterfalls, a beautiful picnic spot. In the tropical evergreen and mixed deciduous forests at Shendurney, are found a variety of animals.The wildlife population at Shendurney sanctuary is rich in flora and fauna and includes animals such as Elephants, Gaurs, Barking Deer, Cobra, Viper, Python and the Indian Porcupine.
You can reach the Shendurney wildlife sanctuary in Kerala by travelling to Thiruvananthapuram which is at a distance of 80 kms from the sanctuary and 70 kms from Kollam railway station
The Shenthuruni Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of the Thenmala Eco-tourism Project, where 409 species of animals, 248 birds, together 34 types of mammals and 35 reptiles, 42 fishes and uncountable varieties of butterflies and moths are harbored. It is also the habitat of 951 varieties of flora where 219 of them are of medicinal value. The massive tropical evergreen forests got the name of Shenthuruni from a tree that grows only within the forest-the chenkurunji that flowers only once in 12 years.
