Tourism News

KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER

Unveiling a World Beyond Wonder

Mr. Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister, Kerala, recently released a book which is the first in the 'Sanctuary for the Soul' series on the four national wildlife sanctuaries in the State. The first book is a literary bioscope on the famous Silent Valley National Park in Palakkad. This is a fresh attempt to present the State's rich biodiversity to the outside world and underline the need for forest conservation. Brought out by Kerala Tourism in association with the Department of Forests, the book is punctuated with breathtaking photographs and reveals the park's mundane to the extraordinary. 

"This new book is a virtual trek to the jungle and is a celebration of our rich and precious biodiversity. The abundance of nature in Kerala also entrusts on us the responsibility of conserving our rich biodiversity for future generations," said Mr. Oommen Chandy while releasing the coffee-table book in his office.

Mr. A. P. Anil Kumar, Minister for Tourism, Kerala, said that the painstakingly produced book was a symbol of the government's commitment to spread awareness about the State to the outside world. "We want to introduce travellers and tourists from around the world to the rich biodiversity and potential of our forests. The book is a journey to the magical world of our wildlife, a journey the readers of this book would like to repeat by visiting Kerala and enjoy the experience firsthand," he added.   

There are several hitherto unseen and unexplored facets of the National Park in Kerala presented in the book. The series is the result of hours of interviews with authorities, tribal community members, guides, watchmen and local people. The importance of conserving the forests for ourselves and the posterity is underlined throughout the book.

The other three books in the series are on the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in Palakkad, Eravikulam National Park in Idukki and Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady. Guiding the reader through the idyllic charms of Silent Valley National Park, the book describes the pristine valley through the spellbinding experiences of its writer Mr. Manu Remakant. The stunning photographs of the wild by renowned wildlife photographer Balan Madhavan provide testament to the richness of nature in 'God’s Own Country'. The series is edited by Mrs. Bhawani Cheerath.