Introduction
Thenmala in Kerala is the first planned ecotourism destination in India. Predominantly a forest area, Thenmala is a small village, located at the foothills of the Western Ghat Mountains . Thenmala is about 72 km from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, the southern most state of Kerala. The name Thenmala is derived from two words - Then & Mala", in local parlance. "Then" means honey and "Mala" means hillock i.e. honey hills. The honey collected from Thenmala forest area is of good quality and of high medicinal value because of the unique floristic composition of the forests. 
 

This premiere eco-tourism destination, is gaining popularity due to its unique vistas, bio-diversity and functioning. Situated about 72kms from Thiruvananthapuram, in the District of Kollam, the Thenmala Eco-Tourism shares its resources with the famous Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary at the foothills of the Western Ghats.
 

Eco-tourism
Managed by Thenmala Eco-Tourism Promotional Society, which is an undertaking of the Government of Kerala, Thenmala Eco-tourism is a unique destination from a visitors point of view. It has equal opportunities for fun, adventure, leisure and for learning the significance and necessity of eco-friendly measures for promoting tourism related activities.

Thenmala or Tenmalai is the meeting point of Kollam-Shencottah road and Trivandrum-Shencottah road, surrounded by dense forest and is 66 kms east of Kollam. Thenmala is blessed with a large number of rubber and tea plantations. Timber of all varieties is exported from here to all parts of the country.Themala Dam site is open for the tourists. An Eco tourists centre operates at Thenmala enabling the travellers to enjoy nature at its very best. All buses passing through Kollam-Shencottah road stop at Thenmala. There is also a Railway station where meter gauge railway still functions.
 

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