Medicinal Plant Garden

About this place

Sanjeevani Vanam is a medicinal garden at Kulathupuzha in Kollam district, located along the Kulathupuzha–Thenmala road and maintained under the Kerala Forest Department. Established in 1988, the garden was developed as a conservation and demonstration area for medicinal plants and has an important role in creating awareness about the value of medicinal plant diversity. The garden covers about 18.8 hectares within the Yeroor Reserve, with designated areas for medicinal-plant demonstration plots, additional plantings of species with medicinal value and a preservation area representing semi-evergreen forest vegetation. More than 400 species of medicinal plants and trees are recorded as being conserved and maintained here, including species considered rare or of conservation importance. An inspection path runs through the demonstration areas, allowing visitors to observe different plants and learn about their characteristics and traditional medicinal significance. The garden provides an educational setting for students, researchers, environmental enthusiasts and members of the public interested in plant diversity, forest conservation and traditional knowledge associated with medicinal plants. Its importance extends beyond the individual species cultivated there: the garden demonstrates how ex-situ conservation and public awareness can contribute to the protection of plant resources and biodiversity. The surrounding landscape of Kulathupuzha forms part of the forested eastern region of Kollam, where the Western Ghats influence the vegetation and ecological character of the area. A visit is therefore best understood as a nature and environmental-learning experience rather than simply a conventional sightseeing attraction. Visitors can explore the demonstration plots, observe medicinal species and experience the cooler, forest-influenced surroundings while following the rules applicable to a Kerala Forest Department-managed site. The garden also provides an opportunity to appreciate the continuing importance of medicinal plants in Kerala's cultural and traditional knowledge systems without assuming that every plant has a proven medical use. Its connection with the wider forest landscape makes responsible visitation particularly important. Visitors should remain on designated paths, avoid damaging or collecting plants, refrain from littering and follow instructions issued by the Forest Department. Sanjeevani Vanam thus combines plant conservation, environmental education and traditional botanical knowledge in a forest setting near Kulathupuzha, making it a relevant destination for those interested in Kerala's medicinal-plant heritage and biodiversity

🚆 Railway Thenmala Railway Station (~1 km)

✈️ Airport Trivandrum International Airport (~75 km)

🚌 Bus Thenmala bus stop, with KSRTC services from Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram on the Kollam–Shencottah route

🏨 Stay Thenmala Ecoresort / Thenmala Heritage / Kandamath Heritage Resort

✅ Notes Thenmala, in Kollam district, is India’s first planned eco-tourism destination, with the dam, adventure and leisure zones, and Palaruvi Falls nearby.