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In its issue no. 24, November 2001 writes under the caption "TURNING POACHERS INTO TOUR GUIDES". It is an article about our Periyar Tiger Trail Programme Tourindia has added a product with a difference to its array of tiger trails - a protection-oriented adventure trekking and camping programme involving former poachers. The initiative was formed by the Government of Kerala under the India Ecodevelopment Project which is funded by the World Bank and the Global Environ- mental Facility (GEF). Members of the Periyar Tiger Trail project include former inhabitants of the forest who previously made their living by trading forest goods illegally. Now, these former poachers have been converted into positive conservationists, becoming partners in the protection and management of habitats. The ex-poachers' intimate knowledge about the plants and animals, and their survival instincts make them we1l-suited to participatory ecotourism activities. Knowing the area inside-out, they can give visitors on the various forest trekking routes a unique experience. Their roles include guiding trekking parties, pitching tents, cooking ethnic food and generally looking after the well- being of their visitors. The Periyar Tiger Reserve is situated in the last belt of tropical rainforest in the Western Ghats -the largest and best known protected wildlife area of Kerala. The reserve, which derives its name from the River Periyar, abounds with a rich genetic diversity including 2000 species of flowering plants, 315 recorded species of birds, 160 species of butterflies, 43 species of reptiles and 62 species of mammals. It is home to more than 36 tigers. The tiger trail programme has proved an agent for positive change -providing a brighter future both for the ex-offenders and for this valuable stretch of rain forest. THE INDIAN DESIGN MAGAZINE in its issue August 2000, no. 183 Mridula Sharma writes under the caption "living out a fantasy" Deep in the tropical rain forest of Kerala is a fantasy world - where you can nest with the birds in two treehouses at a height of almost 100 feet It is almost like make-believe, when you are walking 90 feet above the ground, amidst the tree tops. Is it for real, you wonder. when you crane your neck and look up. Getting to the top is not easy. You are either in a capsule frame, being hauled up by three people pulling the rope on a pulley; or walking gingerly on a gangway, stepping over the planks, hoping they won't give way as you throw your weight on them. .................. Babu Verghese's fantastic creation, the Green Magic Nature Resort in the dense tropical rain forest nestles amidst age-old trees that provide shelter not only to birds but also to those who love to be amongst them. Two tree houses built on top of ficus trees that are more than 200 years old, have already braved the elements for four years. Built with natural materials without the help of any machinery, Babu has made these tree houses almost like cozy nests built by an indulgent bird.......It is an unbelievable spot, where the colours of the forest proportion themselves with the azure sky to create the perfect balance and harmony found only in nature. The innumerable shades of green, vibrant hues of wild flowers, the tree ferns supported with shades of brown, all make the landscape look like a softly splashed palette of a master painter. Trees that stand hundreds of years old appear to dwarf humans and their civilisation. ............... Andrew Eames writes under the caption "Looking down on creation" Photography Mark Luscombe-Whyte Up in the canopy layer of Kerala, southern India, the Green Magic treehouses are, literally, the height of luxury. Andrew Eames takes a holiday head and shoulders above the rest I sat reading, looking up occasionally to check on the position of the sun and the thickness of the mist, and to make sure the Malabar squirrels weren't eating my socks. Somewhere between 3,500 and 4,000 feet above sea level in the southern Indian state of Kerala, there's a bedroom that has been constructed a further 87 feet above the ground. It's a bedroom with a wrap-around balcony, a bathroom and a superlative view across the misty and mystical rainforest-clad Wynad Hills. Its host is a 200- year-old banyan tree, and it must have one of the more unusual hotel lifts in the world: instead of pressing a call-button you turn a wooden tap -and then wait for ten minutes while a black bag fills with water to act as a counterweight...... The most popular Indian Design Magazine. In its issue 171, August 1999, Mridula Sharma writes', on page 110 ' 121, under the caption, "On the Deck of a Dream" with 31 photographs of Ravi Sankar. Weaving natural fibres to turn fantasy into reality, is what Babu Varghese has achieved by converting "kettuvalloms", the traditional cargo boats of Kerala into cruise vessels for people to enjoy. Kettuvalloms are traditional cargo boats made from the Anjili variety of jackfruit wood, by sewing the planks together with coir. These boats are capable of carrying 7-8 lorry lads of cargo. They are open to the sky, except for a small mat hatch for the crew to sleep under. Till about 50 years ago, there were about 5,000 such boats plying along the 1,500 km network of the backwaters, serving as the mainstay of Kerala's commercial and private transport system. That was till surface transport took over and this industry began to decline''.. There are boats with one, two or three bedrooms, a living-cum-dining area and a large deck from where to soak in nature. All the rooms have attached baths with running water, a flush system and shower cubicles. There is a kitchen where fresh meals are cooked three times a day and quarters for the crew. The one-room boats are called the honey-moon boats because they are very popular with newlyweds coming to India for their honeymoon''' The interiors look highly textured. Coir in different weaves is used in a variety of ways and almost everywhere ' on the floor and as cladding on the walls. The partition walls made with plywood planks, have a rush mat cladding with stripes of colour at places, and the curved ceiling has a weave pf bamboo palm supported by a chequered frame of cane. The roofing comprises layers and layers of mat combined with bamboo palm for greater strength. Almost 80 per cent of the joinery is done by tying everything with rope. The roof itself has more than 40,000 knots on it, all done by hand. In the olden days, not a single nail would be driven into these boats. Everything was either tied or sewed together. Once the jackfruit planks have been sewn together, they are treated with cashew oil on the exterior and fish oil on the interior, which strengthens the coir that holds the planks together. The cashew oil on the outside works to waterproof the wood, and almost like bitumen, it colours the wood black. Coconut fibre is pushed into the joints for sealing. After the hull is ready, the roofing is done as per the requirement of the design. It needs 8 to 10 people working for 60 days to put together the hull. Then another 15 people work for 60 more days to get the roofing done and another tow months are taken for interiors and fittings. In all, it takes approximately 6 months at an average to build a boat. These particular boats are roughly 64 ft to 74 long, 12 ft to 14 ft wide and almost 16 ft high'....... And even though now, inspired by Babu's success, there are many companies plying houseboats on the backwaters, the population of the backwaters respects Babu for having steered clear of "pure commercialism. What he believes in, is providing an authentic experience................... The most popular Indian Design Magazine. Lesley Gillilan - a world famous travel writer, under the caption "High life - Back to nature A nice idea' but not with vertigo 90ft above the rainforest [or in a tepee in wettest Cornwall]" writes.... There is even room service of sorts. Lean over the veranda, shriek like a cuckoo and tea is winched up to you in the lift. I have no head for heights but I cannot picture how high 90ft is either. So when Babu Varghese invited me to stay in a rainforest treehouse 90ft off the ground, I accepted without hesitation. The treehouse is part of a new nature resort. There was nothing wrong with the treehouse; not, at least, if you fancy a faintly ethnic lodge with an authentic scrap-timer look hinting at the lost-in-the-wild fantasies of childhood and held in the branches of a giant ficus tree. But I did have a problem with the 'indigenous cage elevator', as Babu called it, a bentwood cage suspended from hundreds of feet of indigenous coir rope and counterbalanced by a bucket - no, let's be honest - a bag of water. The treehouse, too, was charming. As promised, there's a double bed, wall-to-wall coir matting and en-suite shower room (cold water only, but proper 'Western' loo). The walls are lined with panels of palm thatch (live ficus branches grown from the floor that disappear through the ceilings); there are incongruously chintzy curtains hung at the bamboo-framed windows; and rustic Indian arm chairs furnish the sitting room. There is even room service of sorts. You simply lean over the edge of the veranda, and make a rough impersonation of a forest cuckoo. Tray, teapot, cups and saucers are winched up in the lift............... http://www.tourindiakerala.com
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