Shenduruney

Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary, a part of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, owes its name to the endemic species, Gluta Travancorica, locally known as 'Chenkurinji'. The cradle of one of the oldest river valley civilizations in India - older than the Indus Valley (4400 - 3700 BC) - this belt is acclaimed for its rich biodiversity. Lying on either side of the Shenduruney River, the reservoir of the Parappar Dam, constructed across Kallada River in 1986, occupies the heart of this Wildlife Sanctuary which is the only one in Kollam District. The vegetation in the Sanctuary is mainly wet evergreen forests and about eight divergent types of forests have been identified here including the Myristica Swamps and Reed Breaks.

Ecotourism Activities

Expedition to the large cave with paintings similar to the Mesolithic paintings of Central India and containing relics of the Stone Age culture is of great tourist attraction. Within the tourism zone of the Sanctuary, boating in the reservoir and trekking are the main activities permitted. Pedal boating and row boating is possible in the Ottakkal Reservoir. The Dharbhakulam trail, Kallar trail and Kuttilappara-Choodal bird watching trail, which are the three ecotourism packages offered here, will give visitors glimpses of the rich flora and fauna at the Sanctuary - 951 species of flowering plants of which 100 belong to the threatened category and around 219 known for their medicinal values. The faunal wealth consists of 34 species of mammals, 245 species of birds, 36 varieties of reptiles, 22 species of amphibians and 42 species of fishes.

In and Around

Thenmala Dam, Palaruvi Waterfalls near Aryankavu and Courtallam are nearby places of attraction. Kulathupuzha, Aryankavu and Achankovil are important pilgrim centres near the Sanctuary.

Accommodation

Treetop houses are available for those who want to enjoy nature at close quarters.

Accessing Shenduruney

Location: In the southwestern part of the Western Ghats in Pathanapuram, Kollam District. 66 km from Kollam town on the Kollam-Shencottai Road.
Altitude: 100 m to 1,550 m above sea level, Shenduruney has a hilly terrain.

Distance

Air: Nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram, 72 km away.
Rail: Closest railhead is Shencottai (30 km) and then Kollam (70 km).
Road: From Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, the Sanctuary is equidistant at 70 km and from Shencottai, it is 30 km.