The forest has been named after a tree called Chenkuruny. The artificial lake formed by the Parappar dam across the Shenduruny and Kulathupuzha rivers is at the centre of the sanctuary.
The sanctuary is home to the Bonnet Macaque, Gaur, Sambar, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Indian Giant Squirrel, Three-Striped Palm Squirrel, Lion-Tailed Macaque, Mouse Deer, Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Nilgiri Langur and many more animals.
The nearest airport is at Thiruvananthapuram (72 km away) while the nearest railhead is at Thenmala. The sanctuary is accessible by motorable roads from Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram.
