Thenmala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thenmala
Tenmala
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Village
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13 Kannara railway bridge in Thenmala
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 Thenmala
Location in Kerala
Thenmala
Location in India
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| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Kollam |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle registration | KL-25 |
| Nearest city | Kollam (63 km) |
Thenmala is a special place in the eastern part of Kollam district in Kerala, India. It is famous for being India's very first eco-tourism center. The name 'Thenmala' comes from the Malayalam language and means "Honey hill." This area is well-known for producing and exporting high-quality honey.
Thenmala is about 66 kilometers (41 miles) from Kollam city. It is also 69 kilometers (43 miles) from Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala. The border of Tamil Nadu state is just 14 kilometers (9 miles) away. Important roads like National Highway-744 (connecting Kollam to Madurai) and State Highway-2 pass through Thenmala.
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What is Eco-tourism in Thenmala?
Thenmala is India's first planned eco-tourism spot. This means it was carefully designed to let people enjoy nature without harming it. The main attraction here is the Thenmala Dam. This dam created the largest artificial lake in Kerala.
The Thenmala Dam and Lake
The Thenmala Dam was built as part of a big project called the Kallada Irrigation and Tree Crop Development Project. It holds back water from three rivers: Chenduruney, Kazhuthurutty, and Kulathupuzha. The lake formed by the dam covers about 26 square kilometers (10 square miles). This beautiful lake stretches into the middle of the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary. It is the largest project in Kerala that helps with irrigation.
Why is it Called "Honey Hill"?
The name Thenmala comes from two Malayalam words. "Thēn" means nectar or honey, and "mala" means mountain. So, it literally means "Honey Mountain" or "Honey Hill." This name fits perfectly because the area is famous for its honey. Thenmala has also been a popular place for filming movies, including Malayalam and Tamil films like Adiverukal (1986).
Fun Things to Do in Thenmala
Thenmala offers many exciting activities for visitors from all over the world. You can go boating on the calm lake or walk across a thrilling rope bridge. For those who love adventure, there are options for trekking, mountaineering, and biking. There is also a musical fountain that puts on a lovely show.
Getting to Thenmala
You can reach Thenmala easily by road from both Trivandrum and Punalur. The closest train station is Punalur. However, Kollam-QLN is a bigger station with more train connections to other parts of India.
Explore Nearby Attractions
There are several other interesting places close to Thenmala:
- Palaruvi waterfall: This is a beautiful waterfall that is a major attraction nearby.
- Deer Rehabilitation Center: Here, you can see deer living in a forest environment. You might even get to see a traditional tree house. Forest dwellers used these tree houses to stay safe from wild animals.
- Kulathupuzha Sastha temple: A famous temple in the area.
- Anchal Pinnacle view point: A great spot to enjoy panoramic views.
- Kudukkathu para: Another scenic viewpoint.
- Punalur suspension bridge: A historic and interesting bridge.
Thenmala is about 72 kilometers (45 miles) from Thiruvananthapuram and just 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Palaruvi Falls.
