The Tropical Gene Pool Garden near Nadugani in Gudalur is to be developed into a tourist attraction with the forest department set to allow trekking, bicycling and other activities to create awareness among the public on the ecology of the Nilgiris.
The Forest Department, which has set up an eco-development committee (EDC) to share the economic benefits of the soon-to-be opened attraction with the tribal community from the nearby Kozhikolli village, plans to eventually develop the area to include spaces where people can stay overnight, and incorporate adventure tourism facility in the future.
The Gene Pool Garden, which used to be a repository for highly endangered species of flora, has been in a state of extreme neglect for the last few years. The facility that was run by the research wing of the forest department was then earmarked as a potential site with a rich scope for eco-tourism in the Nilgiris.
It is hoped that the eco-tourism zone that is to be opened in the coming weeks and set to be the only EDC operational in the Gudalur Forest Division will attract both casual tourists as well as visitors who have interest in the plant and wildlife species of the Nilgiris.
With information and exhibits of the ecology of the Nilgiris to be set up alongside other fun activities, it is hoped that the EDC can capitalise on the interest of tourists visiting the Nilgiris every year, including seasonal visitors from Kerala and Karnataka.
Viewpoints
With a rich and diverse distribution of wildlife in the region, including tigers, elephants, deer and leopards, and panoramic views of the rolling hills and grasslands surrounding the Gudalur region that can be enjoyed from atop two viewpoints in the area, there is an expectation that the Gene Pool Garden could become one of the must-see tourist locations in the Nilgiris.
Forest department officials also expect the community of Paniya tribals in Kozhikolli village to be benefited from the EDC, with members from the highly impoverished indigenous community to be allowed to take charge of the cafeteria and other shops that are to be established.
Speaking to The Hindu , District Forest Officer, Gudalur Division, P.K. Dileep, said that the EDC would go a long way in benefiting the tribal communities in the belt economically and also help in building relationships between the communities and the forest department.
“As the Nadugani area and the Gudalur belt in general is in the tri-junction area, it is extremely sensitive and prone to the threat of left-wing extremism spilling over from the bordering States. The establishment of an EDC will ensure regular income generation, the benefits of which will be shared equitably with the indigenous communities living here,” he said.
