Gavi is a remote, eco-tourism village in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district, originally developed in the 1970s by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) to rehabilitate Tamil families from Sri Lanka. Known for its cardamom plantations and lush forests, it transitioned from a strictly plantation-based area to a renowned eco-tourism destination, managed by KFDC.
Historical Highlights of Gavi:
Rehabilitation Roots: Around 1964 (with development continuing into the 1970s), roughly 150 Tamil families were resettled in the area from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon).
Estate Development: These families were brought in to work on massive cardamom plantations established in the region.
Transition to Ecotourism: Recognizing its pristine nature, the KFDC developed Gavi as an ecotourism spot, offering services like trekking, boating, and jungle stays while keeping the region under protected status within the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
Unique Flora: The region is known for its biodiversity, including a rare Gopher tree (known locally as nirampalli), associated with the biblical ark.
Location: Gavi is part of the Western Ghats and is close to Vandiperiyar.
Today, Gavi is a protected eco-destination that limits daily visitors, acting as a crucial conservation zone for the forest department