Gavi eco-tourist spot information

Gavi is an eco-tourist spot in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. It is quite famous for it's untouched, pristine natural beauty and also for the variety of wildlife found here

Gavi is a famous eco-tourism location in the eastern parts of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. It is a project of Kerala Forest Development Corporation to promote eco-tourism by collaborating with local tribes to protect this beautiful tourist place and, in turn, helps the locals earn their livelihood.It is a village located in the buffer zone bordering Ranni reserve forest, part of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Tourists need entry permits from forest officials to visit the place. Gavi rose to fame only in last few years after a large tourism marketing company listed Gavi as a must visit eco-tourism spot.

Gavi lies close to Sabarimala forests. The place is full of wilderness. The terrain consists of grasslands, meadows, hills and valleys altogether make it interesting for nature lovers. Gavi forest has a variety of rare animals like Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed Macaques, Tigers, Elephants, Leopards, Gaurs etc. This place also has more than 260 bird varieties including Indian Hornbills, Woodpecker, Kingfishers etc. Thus, this is one of the best places for nature lovers.

Travel Tips

Since Gavi is a restricted tourist area, there are limited accommodation options available. Stay in nearby locations like Kumily or Thekkady and visit Gavi.

How to Reach

Gavi is accessible from northern and southern parts of Kerala through Vandiperiyar and Pathanamthitta (Konni) respectively. Gavi is 170 km's from Kochi city. Thiruvananthapuram is 185 km's from here. Nearest railway station is Kottayam, at a distance of 123 km's. Kochi International Airport at Nedumbassery is the closest airport lying at a distance of 164 km's.

Through Kumily, the tourist from Tamilnadu also accesses Gavi. Madurai city is 180 km's from this place.

Activities

Gavi offers unadulterated natural beauty. Tourists will admire the natural beauty and the scenic drive through the forests to reach Gavi. Wildlife is abundantly present. One can watch Elephants, Bisons during the drive itself, if lucky. Boating facility is available in Gavi lake, which is right in front of the eco-lodge. Boating through Kochupamba lake with crystal clear waters is also memorable. Trekking through the forests with trained guides is available. There is a view point from where tourists can watch Sabarimala temple clearly. There are many waterfalls that one can observe en route to Gavi.

Another activity is to visit the cardamom and coffee plantations in a Jeep safari. Night safari to Pullumedu, Pachakkanam will let tourists explore the nocturnal nature of this place and more chances of spotting wildlife. Camping is allowed in this place to enjoy the wilderness.

Gavi as an eco-tourism destination has restricted the number of tourists allowed, so as to protect the fragile ecosystem of this region. The main accommodation option available is Green Mansion eco-lodge run by KFDC. There are also Swiss cottage tents, Treehouses available. All these needs pre-booking.

Timings & Season

Gavi is located in the western ghats at an elevation of 1100 meters from mean sea level. The mountain climate and cool breeze, misty day time are the weather characteristics of this place. The monsoon downpour is heavy in this area during June to August and temperature drops near to 20°C. Best season to visit Gavi is during the winter starting from October to March when the atmosphere is quite chilly and fresh.