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Home > Kerala Wildlife Sanctuaries > Eravikulam National Park Eravikulam National Park
It is an ideal place for seeing the biodiversity of high elevation shola-grassland ecosystem. Eravikulam National Park is 97 sq. km. in extent, situated along the crest of the Western Ghats in the High Ranges of Idukki district of Kerala state, India. The Park holds the largest viable population of the endangered (IUCN) Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius). Eravikulam National Park harbours the largets surviving population of Nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius). This endangerd animal is endemic to the southern Western Ghats. Its nearest relative is the Himalayan tahr. The fully grown male is known as 'saddle back' is much bigger and darker than the female and has a silvery saddle like patch on its back. Mating takes place during monsoons and the birth season is January-February. The estimated population of tahr inside the park is about 700. Wild dog, leoperd and tiger are the main predators. Apart from tahr, other little known animals such as Nilgiri marten, small clawed otter, ruddy mongoose, and dusky striped squirrel are also found. Elephants make seasonal visits. Apart from tahr, the Park is the abode of other little known fauna such as Nilgiri marten, ruddy mongoose,small clawed otter,dusky striped sqirrel etcVisitors are taken to Rajamalai in forest dept vehicles and given an opportunity to see all this. Private vehicles are not allowed here. The National Park is usually closed at the time of calving of Nilgiri Tahr which is usually during the early months of every year. About 120 species of birds have been recorded which include endemics like black and ornage flycatcher, Nilgiri pipit, Nilgiri wood pegeon, white bellied shortwing, Nilgiri verditer flycatcher and Kerala laughing thrush. Endemics confined to the shola-grass land ecosystem like the red disk bushbrown and Palni fourwing are among the 100 odd butterflies listed inside the park.
The shola-grassland ecosystem is a strange admixture of temprature and tropical qualities due to the combined effects of altitude as well as latitude. It is exceptionally rich in orchids and balsams. The spectacular mass flowering of the shrub neelakurunji (Phlebophyllum kunthianum) takes place in the grasslands in cycles of the 12yrs. The main body of the National Park is a high rolling plateau with a base elevation of about 2000 mts. Most of the knolls and peaks rise 100-300 mts. above it with some mountains reaching altitudes of over 2500mts. The highest peak is Anaimudi(2690mts). The vast grasslands interspread with sholas (patches of stunted evergreen forests) are the last remnats of the unique ecosystem that was once prevalant in the upper reaches of the Western Ghats. The park is criss-crossed by perennial streams that originate in the sholas. The climate is described as tropical montane. The Park experiences very heavy rainfall. It recieves its major precipitation during the south-west monsoons (June-August). The average annual rainfall is about 3000mm. January-March are relatively dry months. In winter, the temprature goes down even below freezing point.
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 Kannan devan hills. Anamudi, the highest peak (2695 m) south of Himalayas, stands majestically in the core area of the national park. The slopes of the hills abound in many kinds of rare flora which include rare terrestrial and epiphytic orchids, and beautiful wild balsams. Important fauna here are the Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Langur, leopard, tiger, Indian bison, etc.
Rajamalai is the tourism zone of the National Park, where the visitors are taken in forest dept vehicles and introduced to the shola - grassland eco system unique to this region. There is a very informative interpretation centre at Rajamalai. 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.During the colonial days, the High Range Game Preservation Association managed the area as a Game Preserve for the erstwhile Kannadevan Hills Produce Company. The Muduvan tribals, known for theit tracking skills, were employed as game watchers. they are the original inhabitants of these hills. The area was taken over in 1971 by the Kerala Government and declared as a Sanctuary in 1975. It was upgraded to a national park in 1978in recognition of it's unique ecological values. The planter community and the Muduvans continue their association with the protection and management of the park. Don't make this your destination during the early months of the year, the park may be closed for visitors because it is calving time of the Tahr.
TopographyThe area is undulating, dotted with grass hillocks and sholas. Anamudi (2694m), the highest peak, south of the Himalays, is situated in the south of the park. ClimateThe area receives heavy rains during both the monsoons. This is one of the wettest areas of the world. During the winter months of December to February, the occurrence of frost is quite common. Forest TypesThe major portion of this area is covered with grasslands, but there are several patches of sholas seen in hollows and valleys. FloraActinodaphne bourdilloni, Microtropis ramiflora, pittosporum tetraspermium, Sysygium arnottianum, Chrysopogon zelanieus, Eupatorium adenophorum, Strobilanthes, Kunthi anus (Neelakurinji), Eulalia phaeothrix, Tripogen bromodes, Arundninella fuscata and Cyanotis species. FaunaTiger, panther and wild dogs are usually sighted in both the open grass land sholas forests. Civet cat and jungle cat also live in the sholas. Sloth bear, Nilgiri langur and wild boar are generally found in sholas and their fringes. The Atlas moth, the largest of its kind in the world, is seen in this park. The population of the world famous Nilgiri Tahr is 1317 according to the 1991 census. There were only 885 in 1989.
Administration Eravikulam National Park is under the control of the Wildlife Warden, Idukki Division with headquarters at Painavu (Vellappara) and under the direct charge of the Assistant Wildlife warden with headquarters at Rajamala. Wildlife TourismTourists can visit the Rajmala part of the park with entry passes. The park is nearly 15 kms north of Munnar, which can be reached from Kochi (135 kms) and Kottayam (148 kms). The nearest airport is Kochi and the nearest railway station is Aluva, which is 115 kms from Munnar. 
AccommodationThere are several private lodges in Munnar. In addition, there are government guest houses at Munnar and Devikulam. PWD rest houses also offer accommodation. Useful InformationLatitude : 10°10' -10° 20' N Location: 15 km from Munnar. Contact Address1. Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala - 695 014 Phone : 322217. 2. Wildlife Warden, Eravikulam National Park, Munnar. 3. Assistant Wildlife Warden, Eravikulam National Park, Rajamala, (Near) Nemakad Estate, Munnar P.O., Kerala. Also do check out our exclusive photo gallery for more images from Eravikulam National Park .
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