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Kerala Unplugged
Konni - Kerala's new offering from its repertoire of pristine
nature
Shailesh Nair
 Kerala
leaves visitors spellbound; it is not surprising to see tourists come back to
this holistic land of pure virgin charm. Kerala has got lots more to offer,
and every year more destinations are emerging from the unknown, to make a mark
in the tourist circuit. One of these is Konni.
Housed in Pathanamthitta district, Konni is one of the most beautiful destinations
situated on the foothills of Western Ghats. The topography of the land and settings
gives it a small hill station ambience. Abundantly rich in cash crops like rubber,
pepper, coffee, ginger etc, Konni is a sight to behold for all the nature lovers,
as it has an extensive flora and fauna cover. Fifty percent of the district
is covered by deciduous forest, which is well over the optimum fixed area of
33 percent.
This place will surely draw a lot of trekking enthusiasts
in the times to come - the undulating geography makes it home for trekkers.
Small perennial waterfall, proximity to tribal colony and adventure tours make
it a destination for the future. Closely situated is the Elephant training camp,
one of the few in Kerala.
Mode of Travel:
By road: From Pathanamthitta 5 kms
By Air: Thiruvanthapuram Airport
By Train: Chengannur station |
Konni is located in the proximity of Sabarimala and is enroute
from Thiruvanthapuram to Kumarakom/ Thekkady. This gives the destination an
advantage in bringing in the regular tourist traffic and also pilgrim traffic
once they finish the pilgrimage. The sole resort is the Contour Jungle Resort,
housed atop a hillock giving you a 360 degree view of the wonderful forest -
the only sound you get to hear there is that of wind and the animals. Access
to this resort is an unforgettable experience; you are transferred from the
base camp to the resort, a 9 km rugged cross country drive by jeeps. It's also
an ideal destination for small conferences. There are specific tour packages
to meet your requirement. Apart from this you have a Forest inspection Bungalow
and few private lodges.
Next time you are planning to get away from the maddening noise, crowd and concrete
structures, keep Konni as one of your options.
The author is the managing director
of Mystikal India (http://www.mystikalindia.com) and can be contacted at
info@mystikalindia.com
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