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It is well known that Kerala, God’s own country, is one of the most visited destinations in India, and has something for everyone, no matter what kind of tourist you are. The state is quite tourist-friendly, and Kerala tourism authorities are always working only to improve it. Set to launch on the 2nd of October, the ‘Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam’ initiative is also a part of these efforts. Under this initiative, the Kerala Tourism Board has identified 25 green tourism destinations in the state, which will be made garbage-free by March 30th, 2025.
This initiative will include steps like better waste management, improvement in general cleanliness, and protection of the local flora and fauna. With these sustainable practices, the Kerala Tourism Board intends to set the state as a beaming example of environmental tourism. While it is yet to be made public, some of the names in the green tourism destination list include Kasaragod’s Kite Beach Park, Kannur’s Iritty Eco Park and Chal Beach, Kozhikode’s Lokanarkavu Temple, Malappuram’s Nilambur Teak Museum. Apart from these, others that seem to have been identified by Kerala tourism include Mangalam Dam Park in Palakkad, Hill View Park in Idukki, Elephant Shelter in Pathanamthitta, Adichanalloor Chira Park in Kollam, Alappuzha Beach, Thenmala Eco Adventure Park, Ponmudi, Ponnumthuruthu and Sasthampara in Thiruvananthapuram, etc.
Green tourism or environmental tourism isn’t a new concept to Kerala however. The state is rich in biodiversity and has been working consistently all these years to make travel more sustainable. Here are some of the already existing green tourism destinations you can explore in Kerala:
Eravikulum National Park
Situated in the Ernakulum district, Eravikulum National Park is home to the famed Neelakurinji flowers that bloom once every 12 years, and cover the entire hillsides in blue-purple hues. This green tourism destination in Kerala is also rich in fauna, with the largest regional population of the Nilgiri Tahr. Apart from them, Eravikulum National Park also has Nilgiri langurs, golden jackals, small-clawed otters, Nilgiri martens, a variety of mongoose species, and Asian elephants. You can also spot endemic bird species like the Nilgiri flycatcher, 100+ varieties of butterflies, and 20 odd varieties of reptiles at this green tourism destination, with the latest discovery being a red-orange frog in 2010, which is now called Raorchestes resplendens.
Kottur Elephant Rehabilitation Centre
You cannot talk about Kerala tourism and then not talk about Kottur Elephant Rehabilitation Centre. Situated near the capital Thiruvananthapuram, this started as an elephant sanctuary in 2006, and in 2019 the state government greenlit the rehabilitation centre which now houses close to 30 elephants, and is instrumental in taking care of the injured ones before they’re released back in the wild. This green tourism destination lets you witness these gentle giants up close, all while maintaining their natural habitats.