The picturesque Kole fields in Thrissur, with its vast greenery and abundance of birds and fishes, are set to become a tourist hotspot.
The Thrissur district administration is preparing an ecotourism project for the Pullu-Manakkody Kole wetlands.
The Kole fields, which account for more than 40% of the rice production in the State, are spread over 13,632 hectares in Thrissur and Malappuram districts and are a Ramsar site.
Birders’ paradise
A birdwatchers’ paradise, the Pullu-Manakkody Kole fields are a preferred destination of migratory birds. It comes in the Central Asian Flyway of migratory birds. It is the third largest habitat in the country, after Chilika Lake in Odisha and Amipur Tank in Gujarat, in terms of number of birds.
A low-lying track, 0.5-1 m below sea level, the Kole fields, which has around 250 species of birds, has been recognised as one of India’s important bird areas by BirdLife International. Running parallel to the coast, it also has a huge fish wealth. The four-km travel from Manakkodi to Pullu, through the Kole fields, is a heavenly experience. Hundreds of people visit the Kole fields on weekends and holidays. Watching sunset and sunrise here gives a rejuvenating feel.
Boating, cycling
The district administration is planning to include the Anthikkad, Paralam, Arimbur, and Chazhur areas in the ecotourism project. Boating facilities, treetop huts for birdwatching, fishing facilities, cycling though bund roads, and an eco museum will be the main attractions of the project.
An environmental impact assessment and social impact assessment will be held soon considering the biosensitivity of the area. The District Tourism Promotion Council will be the implementation agency.
