With the Onam holiday season approaching, the Adavi eco-tourism centre is gearing up to handle a surge in visitors, with 24 new coracles brought in from Hogenakkal ahead of the festive rush.The centre has already been witnessing a steady flow of visitors and officials expect the footfall to rise further in the coming days.Forest officials said the new coracles and oars were brought to Adavi and distributed among the boatmen, who have begun applying rain guard compound to the outer surfaces of the boats. The compound is applied to the surface and allowed to dry before the coracles are put into service.“The new coracles will be pressed into service once the coating work is completed, mostly when the centre reopens after the Thiruvonam break,” said Akhil S., secretary of the Vana Samrakshana Samithi that runs the centre. Though the facility offers recreation, its primary objective is to help visitors experience and understand the forest and its environment, he said.According to him, a coracle can normally be used for around six months. Prolonged use can cause the outer layers to peel off, the edges to crack and the structure to weaken, eventually rendering the boats unfit for service.A coracle ride at Adavi costs ₹600, with each boat accommodating four adults and one child. A Forest official said the revenue from the bowl boat rides forms part of the Forest Department’s ecosystem management fund project. The initiative allows visitors to experience the forest while contributing towards mitigating the environmental impact of human activity. The funds are utilised for conservation activities, he said.Adavi eco-tourism is part of the Konni eco-tourism project and is managed by the Elimullumplackal Vana Samrakshana Samithi (VSS). Besides coracle rides, the centre has an Aranyam Café and an eco-shop, while a pedal-boat service for children is also being introduced.The facility has been developed as a structured eco-tourism centre, with cashless transactions and digital payment systems in place. Published - August 24, 2026 08:38 pm IST