SCOPE OF ECO - TOURISM IN KERALA” ? A GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

Kerala, a western coastal state is located on the southernmost tip of India. It stretches from no rth to south along the coastline of 580 km with a width of 35 to 120 kms. It lies between 74* 51` E to 72* 22` E Longitudes and 8*18` N to 12*48` N Latitudes. It covers an area of 38863 sq km which is about 1.18% of the total area of India. In Kerala, 28.9 0% land area is covered with forest which is about 2.3% of national average forest cover. Its natural beauty and exquisite landscape which attract the tourist of India and abroad. Landscape is covered with coconut palms, paddy fields, banana plantation, te a plantation are looking like green blanket and pleasing atmosphere throughout the year provides best sites for the ecotourism i.e. Thenmala, Bhoothan Kettu, Peruvannamoozhy, Thekkady, Nelliampathy, Konni, Kumbalangi, Kuruva, Thatikkad, Poovar, etc