The Eco-Tourism Project, being implemented on Pachamalai hills in Uppliyapuram block in the district, is expected to give a boost to the tourism infrastructure of Tiruchi district.
Work on almost all major tourism infrastructure facilities has been completed. The project is being executed on the hills located at a height of 1,072 metres above the sea level. Executed by the Forest Department, the project includes tree-top houses.
Top Sengattupatti or Thenpuranadu is the major area where the suits, designed in the form of treetop houses, have been built.
All civil work has been completed in the tree-top houses.
Very close to it is a sprawling dormitory for men and women, restaurant, and a mushroom house.
The area of each of four treetop house is 400 square feet. The windows too have been designed in such a manner that it adds to the serene beauty of the hills. The large mushroom house is about 650 square feet in area.
“The absence of a motel on the hills has remained a major bottleneck for the tourists, Hence, a restaurant has been constructed very close to the tree-top suits,” say officials.
Interpretation centre
The hills, which form part of the Eastern Ghats, account for 154 species of birds and 135 species of butterflies, according to a study conducted by the Forest Department. It has a population of 500 deer with three deer habitats.
To provide an audio-visual treat to the tourists, the Forest Department has constructed an Interpretation Centre
. It has three distinct chambers — one for administrative unit, second for the cries of animals and birds, and the third for the butterflies.
Tourists and nature-lovers besides children will enjoy the thrill of having visited a deep and thick forest as the interpretation centre has been constructed in such a manner that sunlight is scarce in it. The other works completed include 4-km trekking trail from Maamarathusolai with two rest rooms; a safe access to waterfalls by constructing 80 steps; watch towers at a couple of places and renovation of the British-built guest house and construction of a new building for the Forest official.
The State Government sanctioned Rs. 2.17 crore for executing the project which was taken up about a couple of years ago. The infrastructure would be thrown open to public in course of time after a few projects are completed at the Interpretation Centre.
All the infrastructure will be maintained by the tribal communities. The Forest Department has formed four Eco-Tourism Management Committees, one each at Top Sengattupatti (Thenpuranadu), Keezhakarai, Semboor, and Chinnamangalam village panchayat.
A nominal entrance fee will be collected from the tourists and the funds raised will be utilised for community development of the panchayat concerned, sources said.
The project is being executed on the hills located at a height of 1,072 metres above
the sea level
