Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary - Thenmala, Kollam - Timings, Safari Cost, Best Time to Visit
#16 of 33 Places to Visit in Kollam
Distance (From Kollam): 78 Kms
Trip Duration (Including Travel): 1-2 Hours
Transportation Options: Bus / Cab
Travel Tips: 1. Thenmala Dam is about 20 Kms from Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary and can be visited together.
2. Palaruvi Waterfalls is about 31 Kms from Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary and can be visited together.
At a distance of 78 km from Kollam, Shendurny Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in the Kollam district of Kerala. Located at the edge of Thenmala Dam's catchment area in the Western Ghats, it is one of the lesser-known wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala, and among the major places to visit as part of Kollam holiday packages.
Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary comes under the control of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve. It was established in the year 1984 and comprises 172 sq. km. The name is a corruption of the Chengurinji, a tree endemic to the region (Gluta travancorica). The sanctuary is a valley of green splendour acclaimed for its rich biodiversity lying on either side of the Shendurney river.
The sanctuary is spread across 26 sq. km artificial lake formed by Thenmala Dam. According to recent archaeological findings, this place has witnessed one of the oldest river valley civilizations in India, even older than the Indus valley. Remains of Stone Age culture dating back 5210-4420 BC have been excavated from a large cave near the river. The cave also contains ancient paintings.
Among the top Kollam places to visit, the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is a treasure house of plant diversity. About 1257 species of flowering plants belonging to more than 150 families are reported from this sanctuary of which 309 species are endemic to the Western Ghats. About 34 species of mammals, 245 species of birds, 36 species of reptiles, 22 species of amphibians, and 42 species of fishes are reported from the sanctuary. The common mammals found here are elephants, Gaur, Sambar, Wild bear, Malabar giant squirrel, Nilgiri langur, Lion-Tailed macaque, etc.
The first eco-tourism project in India, Thenmala Eco-tourism Project has been formulated in and around Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary. It encompasses everything from boat rides to leisurely walks to even adventure sports like mountain biking and rock climbing. The wild forest of Shendurney offers an opportunity to the eco-tourists to explore the unique beauty of the wilderness of Shendurney Forests along with two types of trekking programs- Soft trekking and Hard trekking. Some of the popular hard trekkings are Sky Walk, Reservoir Walk, and Wet 'N' Wild trial. Camping facilities are also available at Shendurny.
Timings: 8 AM - 5 PM
Contact Details
The Wildlife Warden
Shendurney Wildlife Division
Thenmala Dam P.O.
Phone : +91 475 2344600
Mobile:9447979081
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.shendurney.com
