Location: 15 km from Munnar. Visiting hours : 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
A sanctuary for the endangered mountain goat of South India, the Nilgiri Tahr ( Hemitragus hylocrious), the Eravikulam National Park stands out for the stark beauty of its rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97 sq km in the Rajamalai hills.
Anamudi, the highest peak (2695 m) south of the Himalayas, towers over the sanctuary in majestic pride. The slopes of the hills abound in all kinds of rare flora and fauna. The Atlas moth, the largest of its kind in the world, is a unique inhabitant of the park. Other rare species of fauna found here are the Nilgiri Langur, the lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers, etc.
An ideal place for trekking, facilities are provided here and tourists are allowed to go on foot up to Anamudi.
A protected area, the sanctuary is divided into three regions - the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area. Visitors are allowed only to the tourism area - Rajamalai - the region lying beyond the road entry into Eravikulam. Here one can observe the Nilgiri Tahr at close quarters.
Don't make this your destination for a monsoon visit because visitors are not allowed here during this season.
Getting there: Eravikulam is 15 kms from Munnar.
Nearest railway stations: Kottayam, about 142 km from Munnar; Ernakulam, about 130 km from Munnar. Nearest airports: Madurai (Tamilnadu) about 142 km; Cochin International Airport, about 150 km.
Other Major Important Wildlife Destinations in Kerala
The place is fascinating for its damsite, thick forest areas, eucalyptus plantations, crystal clear streams and rocky terrains ideal for adventure expeditions.
Silent Valley National Park has an area of 90 sq km is located in the north eastern corner of the district. It rises abruptly to the Nilgiri Plateau in the north and overlooks the plains of Mannarkkad in the south.
Thattekkad is made up of dense tropical evergreen and deciduous forest and grassland patches, housing a population of over 500 species of exotic birds.
Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India, and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks.
The sanctuary is very rich in flora and fauna. The management lays emphasis on scientific conservation with due consideration for the general lifestyle of the tribals and others who live in and around the forest region.