subject: THUMBOORMOZHI – India's second largest Butterfly Garden (Thumboormozhi Dam Garden) [print this page] THUMBOORMOZHI India's second largest Butterfly Garden (Thumboormozhi Dam Garden)
Thumboormozhi Dam Garden is one of the most famous tourist spot in Thrissur District, Kerala. It falls on the bank of Chalakudy River. Every One who visits Athirappally Water Falls happens to travel across Thumboormozhi butterfly garden, a calm quiet garden with a small children's park. Thumboormozhi dam is a check dam built across the Chalakudy River and water is diverted for irrigation purpose. The stage I of the scheme comprising a weir at Thumboormozhi across Chalakudy River and a part of the canal system was commissioned in 1957 and stage II was commissioned in 1966.
Thumboormozhi Dam is an irrigation dam built on the Chalakudy Puzha where a portion of the water from the river splits in to two canals namely Edathukara canal (left side canal) and Valathukara canal (right side canal). These canals are the backbone of the irrigation for the nearby villages. During summers almost whole of the river water will be directed towards the canals and the river bed will be visible.Some of the butterflies that can generally be seen in the garden include lemon butterfly (Papilio demoleus), southern bird wing (Troides minos), common rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae), light blue tiger (Tirumala limniace), dark blue tiger (Tirumala septentrionis) and common crow (Euploea core). Plants that are raised in the garden for forage by butterflies include Clerodendrum paniculatum, Crotalaria pallida, Crotalaria retusa, Cuphea hyssopifolia, Gardenia sp., Gloriosa superba, Heliotropium keralense, Hibiscus spp., Impatiens sp., Ixora spp., Jasminum spp., Jatropa spp., Lantana spp. Plants such as Aristolochia indica, Thottea siliquosa, Tylophora indica, Asclepias sp., Carissa carandus, Ruta graveolens, Aegle marmelos, Cassia spp., Albizzia spp., Kalanchoe spp., Musaenda luteosa.
The administration is done by the forest department and we have entrance fee for children and adult and aloowed between 9 AM to 5 PM. They also charge toll for your Video/Still camera. A restaurant run by District Tourism Promotion council at the Garden where we can manage traditional Kerala food. They also prepare special dishes on request. The other facilities includes a snack bar inside the garden, Ice cream parlour, rest house, Bathing Ghat and a toilet block.
