Now travellers visiting Gavi in the Pathanamthitta district can get a much better feel of the verdant forests spread across this popular eco-tourism centre in Kerala. The tourists can now go on an enchanting boat ride put in place by the Kochu Pampa eco-tourism and cap it off with a sumptuous meal. Any travel junkie steeping into Gavi would get the golden opportunity to be on the lap of Mother Nature and see wild animals freely roaming around in their natural habitat.
The pocket-friendly boat ride on the tranquil Gavi Lake is conducted under the aegis of the Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC). As boating was resumed after the COVID-19-induced hiatus, people are flocking to Gavi, says Manikandan, tourist guide and main oarsman.
The Kochu Pampa Eco-tourism Center is situated a few kilometres before reaching Gavi and the boating services are run under the watchful eyes of the Gavi division of KFDC. Five boats manoeuvred by oars with a carrying capacity of five persons each would take tourists around the picturesque lake.
The Gavi Lake is situated on the downstream of the Kochu Pampa dam, which is part of the Sabarigiri Hydro-electric Project. One can go on boating for close to 30 minutes on the lake that is spread across close to 7km. The boating is safe as the lake is placid and everyone has to wear life jackets. Besides an entry fee of Rs 20, the boating fare is Rs 100 per person.
Delicious food that too at affordable rates would be ready if you could inform the authorities concerned about your arrival. You can also carry home-cooked food as there is an expansive dining table in front of the tourist centre along with washrooms.
Earlier, the tourist centre boasted of coracle rides but now the round-shaped small boats are idling on the shores after the tourist spot was closed for many months following the rampant spread of coronavirus. But now the officials are planning to restart the coracle rides in the immediate future as the tourist footfall to Gavi is increasing manifold.
It is noteworthy that the mobile phone signals are pretty weak at the eco-tourism centre, and all the reservations are done by contacting the tourist guides. The guides will wait for the tourists at the entrance of the centre and would explain in detail about leisure boating. Earlier, the tourist spot had facilities for trekking and as there were only a few takers for trekking it was eventually shelved.
Presently, the KFDC authorities are chalking out exhaustive projects to attract tourists to the eco-tourism centre.
For boating reservations, contact: 8547809270, 9495284900.