PATHANAMTHITTA: Backpackers who want to revisit the days when they climbed trees during childhood can do one better at the tree-top huts in the wilds of Adavi, around 10 km away from Konni town.
Konni Eco-tourism Project is poised to attract heavy flow of tourists, including from foreign countries, with the opening of tree-top houses at Adavi forests, on the banks of the Kallar river. Located 10 km from Konni town, the self-contained six tree-top houses are ready for commissioning in a month, according to Konni DFO S Mohanan Pillai.
The DFO said that the public sector Bamboo Corporation is setting up the unique and ethnic houses on tree branches. Having a total area of 225 sq ft each, the rent for a house will be `4,000 for a day, he said.
For the exclusive service for the tourists who stay at the tree-top huts, a restaurant would also available at Adavi, the DFO said.
The work on the houses, barring electrical installations, is completed and the electricity connection is available soon, Mohanan Pillai said. The KSEB has already began cable-laying works and would be completed in a week, he said. Transportation facility would be available for the needy tourists from Konni Eco-Tourism Centre, he said.
Bowl boat riding
The DFO said that bowl boat riding in Kallar river at Adavi was a big hit. Launched over six months ago, riding on the bowl boat, which carries five person including an oarsmen, attracted thousands of tourists during the just-concluded two-month summer season, the DFO said.
The tourist attraction for the boat riding during the summer season was about 500 a day as against 100 people during normal days, he said. To meet the demand of the increased flow of tourists to Adavi for the bowl boat ride, the number of bowl boats available for the purpose has been increased to 20 from 10, he said. Adequate number of trained oarsmen, picked from Vanasamrakshana Samithis belonging to the nearby forest areas, were made available for the purpose, Mohanan Pillai said.
Konni elephant camp
The tourists flow to Konni elephant camp were higher during the summer season with the additional facilities at children’s park, the DFO said. With the number of elephants available at camp rose to eight, including the two calf elephants, the flow of tourists also shot up during the season. The reintroduction of elephant safari is another important attraction for the tourists, especially those from the foreign countries, he said.