| Konni is a small hilly town in the Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. The lush green land has been prominent since time immemorial as a haven of wild elephants and as an elephant training centre. The acres of thick forest with wild animals has now made Konni emerge as another tourist spot for safaris and trekking. The animals make the forest safari very exciting. The trek to hill top and the view from the hill-top gives amazing pleasure and sights. A camera can capture the entire mountain range in 360 degrees from the hill top. Contour Hill Resorts is the only resort in Konni with all modern facilities. The resort is at a distance of 13 kms from Konni main road |
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| Konni, a forested village in the State of Kerala in South India, situated on the bank of the mighty Achencoil River has a long and rich history of man-forest interface. Vast expanse of forests of Western Ghats in the background is crisscrossed by numerous streams and rivulets, which add to the exceptional scenic beauty of the landscape. |
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| The forests, repository of rich biodiversity were constituted in to Konni Reserve Forests and Achencoil Reserve Forests by the Maharaja of Travancore way back in 1897 and 1901 respectively, which are among the oldest reserve forests in the State |
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| The Konni Elephant Training Centre : |
| The hilly area of Konni (Elephant Training Center), located 11 km from Pathanamthitta, is the gate-way to the forest bordering the district. Surrounded by acres of thick forest, it is an adventurous tourist spot where one can go for thrilling elephant safaris and trekking. Konni has the largest number of wild elephants in the state and is a major elephant training center. In the past, wild elephants caught from the forests were brought here and put in wooden cages known as 'anakoodu' (Elephant Cage) till they were properly trained. After 1972, elephant hunting was stopped since the central government put an end to this crude old method of elephant catching and training. But the cage was preserved and it attracts hundreds of tourists. Made of kambakam wood, anakoodu can accommodate 3- 4 elephants at a time. Now it is home to elephants that were found alone at the AchanKovil river. Konni is also an agricultural area rich in cash crops like rubber, pepper, coffee, ginger etc |
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| it is a major tourists attraction. The prime attraction here is the huge cages built of wood to house elephants. These cage are locally known as Aanakoodu and can accommodate 3- 4 elephants at a time. |
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| The trainers here train the baby elephants which get separated from their herd, or are found wounded or roaming in the forest. Experienced trainers using their systematic training methods, tame the baby elephants. Visitors can get a close look at these elephants and can observe and understand a lot about their behaviour, especially that of baby elephants , which are often endearingly mischievous |
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| Nearby Tourist destinations |
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| Kattathipara in Kokkathodu : |
| Kattathipara, located in a small rural inlet namely Kokkathodu is located a few kilometres away from Konni which is about 11 km away from Pathanamthitta. What make its place attractive is its gigantic rocks and the triple-echo phenomenon. The huge array of rocks narrates the story of a hunter and his mistress, and attracts hordes of tourists. The place also offers trekking facilities for the adventure lovers |
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| Kumbhavuruthy |
| Kumbhavuruthy is a refreshing waterfall located deep inside the forests of Konni which is at a distance of 11kms from Pathanamthitta. The waterfall is accessible by two days of trekking. |
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| Achankovil river |
| Kerala’s famous Achankovil river has its origin in some of the small streams in Konni |
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| Palaruvi Waterfalls |
| Amidst evergreen forests, 16 km from Thenmala towards Shenkotah, 300 ft height |
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| How to reach |
Location: 11 km from Pathanamthitta
Railway station: Chengannur, 28 km from Pathanamthitta
Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport , about 119 km from Pathanamthitta
Nearest Bus station - Pathanamthitta |
