Shenduruny Wildlife sanctuary has got its name from the local tree Shenduruny which grows abundantly in the region. Established in 1984, the sanctuary is situated in Pathanapuram Taluk, 66 km from Kollam town on the highway of Kollam and Shencotta. The park is expanded to an area of 100.32 km and falls under the Thenmala Forest Division before its construction. At the middle of the sanctuary you can see a beautiful artificial lake, built by the Thenmala (Parappar) Dam, lies between the Shenduruny and Kulathupuzha River.
Climate : Blessed with pleasant climate, the sanctuary pulls thousands of freak outs from far away places. Moreover, lush greenery offering alluring sight seeings refill the energy level of the tourists.
Flora :
The dense forest comprises of mixed deciduous flora species. It provides shelter to many wild animals and protects them. Travelers can explore the wildlife treasures while traveling deep inside the sanctuary. The sanctuary has thick forest cover and is also noted for many exotic plants, some of which are medically important. Four different types of vegetation have been found in Shenduruny. They include: West Coast tropical evergreen forest, West Coast tropical semi-evergreen forest, Southern moist mixed deciduous forest and the Southern hilltop tropical evergreen forest. Of these four, the tropical evergreen forest comprises one fourth of the total Shenduruny forest area.Fauna :
Take a wild adventure journey to have a close encounter with wildlife species of the forest. The sanctuary is a haven to wide spectrum of wildlife. Enjoy spotting the exotic fauna species such as elephant, tiger, leopard, bison, bonnet macaque, sambar, barking deer, Indian giant squirrel, lion-tailed macaque, nilgiri langur, wild boar, mouse deer and many more. Bird enthusiasts can watch varied avifauna species.Shenduruny Wildlife sanctuary Other Attractions
There are huge caves here which have paintings on it. This is a remaining of the Stone Age culture that attracts tourists in large numbers. Some of the other main activities here include boating and trekking. The reservoir here is the Ottakkal reservoir where pedal as well as row boating are possible. The main ecotourism packages offered here are the Dharbhakulam trail, Kallar trail and Kuttilappara-Choodal bird watching trail. This helps the tourists to get a glance of the rich flora and fauna. The flora and fauna includes about 951 species of flowering plants and around 400 species of animals. The nearest attractive centres include Thenmala Dam, Palaruvi Waterfalls and Courtalla. The nearby pilgrim centres include Kulathupuzha, Aryankavu and Achankovil.
Reaching Shenduruny Wildlife sanctuary:
By road: 66 km from Kollam town on the Kollam – Shencotta Road, in Pathanapuram taluk of Kollam district.
Nearest railway station: Thenmala connected with Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Kashmir.
Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram 72 km away.
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