The Forest Department is planning to set up better amenities for trekkers at Janakikkad, the district’s most-sought-after low elevation evergreen forest. Following a direction from Forest Minister K. Raju, the Divisional Forest Office here has come up with a beautification project costing ₹85 lakh for the consideration of the State government.
The Department is planning to develop the surroundings in an attractive way, with minimum constructions, to woo more tourists.
Renovation of the two-km-long Maruthongara-Janakikkad Road will be given first priority under the renovation project. The damaged road has been turning away many inter-State visitors.
“Nearly ₹50 lakh will be earmarked for the maintenance of this road as it has already been approved by the Forest Minister during his visit to the spot recently,” says Divisional Forest Officer K.K. Sunilkumar.
Butterfly park
Range Officer P. Suresh says a butterfly park will come up at the destination. Ornamental gardening and repairing of other damaged facilities and seating arrangements too will be considered as part of the project.
Since the opening of the park as an ecotourism centre in 2008, not much effort was taken to project it as one of the safest trekking spots in Kozhikode.
On an average, 50 tourists visit the ecotourism spot daily during peak season. The Department hopes that the number can be increased with the speedy implementation of the new project. A small cafeteria near the entrance of the tourism spot will be considered in the final phase, say officials.