Gavi is a village in
Pathanamthitta district,
Kerala,
India. It is located 28 km southwest of
Vandiperiyar, a town in
Idukki on N.H 220, the highway connecting
Kollam and
Madurai.
Gavi is part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, and the route can be covered by car from Vandiperiyar.
Gavi Eco-Tourism , a project of the Kerala Forest Development
Corporation, has caught the attention of tourists for a while now. The
project is exclusive in many respects and the majority who visited were
nature lovers and adventure tourists. Over a short period of time
visitors to Gavi gradually increased,
A highlight of the Gavi Eco Project is the involvement of the local
populace in its activities as guides, gardeners and cooks. This provides
livelihood for the locals and also helps to create awareness on the
conservation of nature.
It has been said that most enjoyable route to Gavi is the way from
Pathanamthitta.
The rough journey to Gavi may better be made on a sturdy vehicle like a jeep which are available on hire either from Vandiperiyar or from Kumily.
Entry passes must be obtained from the Forest Check Post en route at Vallakkadavu.
Advance booking with the Kerala Forest Development Corporation Ltd. to be taken
The entrance fee is 25 rupees per person and 50 rupees per vehicle. Cameras are 25 rupees and video cameras are charged 100 rupees. Both day and night stays are available. Forest tent camping is available from November through March.
The road leading to Gavi is blanketed by tea plantations, which
itself is a refreshing experience.
the route to Gavi are places of
interest like Mundakayyam, Kuttikanam, Peermedu and Vandiperiyar from
where the road deviates to Gavi.
Once you reach Gavi the serene eco-lodge 'Green Mansion' awaits you
like a mother 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
in 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
suns
Visitors are usually provided vegetarian food and snacks, which
further adds to the eco-friendly ambience 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.
Lady Shoe Flower (
Thunbergia mysorensis) Gavi,Kerala
Endangered species including the Nilgiri Tahr and
Lion-Tailed Macaque are often sighted at the outskirts of Gavi.
Botanists have said that "gopher trees" can be seen in Gavi, Kerala. Gavi's forest area, there are two gopher trees and they are believed to be the only two gopher trees in India. The tree, which is identified as gopher, is known as
nirampalli.
Gopher wood or gopherwood is a term used once in the Bible.
With
more than 260 species of birds including the Great Pied Hornbill,
Woodpecker and Kingfishers, Gavi is literally a paradise for
birdwatchers.
Some of the breathtaking viewpoints at Gavi like the Valley View
offer a spectacular view of the deep ravine and forest below. From Kochu
Pampa, a point near Green Mansion eco-lodge, one can track the grazing
Nilgiri Tahrs.
boating is also available with gauid
The famous pilgrim destination, Sabarimala is a short trek from Gavi.
For those interested in observing nocturnal wildlife, night safaris to
Kullur, Gavi Pullumedu, Kochu Pampa and 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 avian life to the fullest.
campfire museum gavi
early morning open jeep wildlife trekking children park
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.
Gavi Package offered by DTPC Pathanamthitta,
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Kottayam, about 114 km
The nearest railway stations is
Chengannur Railway Station (115 km through keekozhoor- mannamaruthi-koottickal-azhutha-vandiperiyar-gavi) and
Thiruvalla (120 km) and
Theni(99 km) under BG conversion Gavi is situated around 180 km from the state capital
Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum).
Nearest airport: Madurai Airport (Tamil Nadu), about 140 km away and Cochin International Airport, about 190 km
Thiruvanathapuram [TRV] (185 km) angamaly(ank) (190 km)and Madurai [IXM] (186 km) are the nearest airports.
Popular route is through the
Main Central Road(MC Road) till Valakom, and then to
Pathanapuram,
Konni,
Seethathode, Angamoozhy to Gavi
Other routes from Gavi are as below: -
Chittar –
Seethathodu –
Angamoozhy –
Moozhiyar –
Kakki Reservoir –
Anathode Dam –
Pamba Reservoir –
Kochu Pamba – Gavi –
Pachakanam –
Periyar National Park –
Kozhikanam –
Vandiperiyar
Regular buses are available to Vandiperiyar from
Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram. A small bus rattles even up to Gavi from Vandiperiyar.
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