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An unforgettable sojourn in the forest

Ignatius Pereira

A DREAM HOUSE: The tree house inside the Shendureny Wildlife Sanctuary.

KOLLAM: Staying in a tree house 45 ft above ground all night deep inside a wildlife sanctuary and waking up to the chorus of birds and animals in the dawn is an unforgettable experience. The Forest Department has made arrangements for the adventurous to experience such a thrill inside the Shendureny Wildlife Sanctuary in the district.

The tree house is perched on tree at an ideal location within the sanctuary. A banister-supported staircase leads the guest to the tree house. The house comprises a spacious living room, a balcony and a toilette with lavish water supply. The secret of the water supply is a 200 metre hose from a perennial waterfall at a higher elevation.

From the tree house one can get a bird's eye view of the Thenmala Dam's sprawling catchment area. If you are lucky you can see wild animals on the banks of the catchment area quenching their thirst. In fact, the banks of the catchment area is quite close to the tree house and is a favourite watering hole for a wide variety of wild animals, including elephants and the elusive leopard.

The Forest Department arranges trekking to the tree house through trained personnel attached to the Shendurney Eco Tourism and Eco Development Committee. The committee personnel have a separate tree house at a lower elevation to stay without disturbing the guests. It is a package comprising travel arrangement and food. The food is cooked in the traditional manner by the tree house, which in itself is another unforgettable experience. It is an ethnic spread comprising of steaming tapioca and hot vegetable dishes laced with green chillies.

Those interested in experiencing the tree house can contact committee president G. Thomaskutty on phone number 9447480004 or on the web address: thenmalatourism@ yahoo.com.

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