Eravikulam National Park
The first National Park in Kerala which is widespread at a high altitude.
Important Info
- Best Season : November - January
- Required Time : 3 hrs - 4 hrs
- Entry Timing : 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
- Entry Fees : Rs. 200/ person for Indians
- Entry Fees : Rs. 150/ child for Indians
- Still Camera : Rs. 50
- Video Camera : Rs. 350
- Reservation Fee : Rs. 50
Eravikulam National Park is a 37 square mile National Park located along the Western Ghats in the Idukki district of Kerala. The park is administered by the Department of Forests and Wildlife, Munnar Wildlife Division, Kerala . Most of the areas of the national park are consistent hill plateau. So, one can see only high rolling slopes here. The terrain is undulating with grass, hillocks, and sholas. The forests you see here are commonly known as ‘Shoals’.
Eravikulam National Park is presently a natural territory for Nilgiri Tahr an endangered species and is also the famous habitat of Neelakurunji which blooms only once every 12 years. The park is also home to Nilgiri Marten, Ruddy Mongoose, Small Clawed Otter, Dusky Striped Squirrel, and other animals.
Anamudi the highest peak in South India, lies in this National park. Lot of small streams are seen here, which later merge to form tributaries to Periyar and Chalakudy rivers. Lakkom waterfalls are located in this region. This park is the prime attraction of Munnar and is now one of the major tourist destinations in the whole of India. The imposing beauty of the forest, an opportunity to see the endangered Nilgiri Tahr up close and the waterfall at Lakkam attracts more than 5,00,000 visitors annually.
Travel Tips
- Food materials are not allowed into the top station and no restaurants are available at the top station
- A small cafeteria is available at the base station, where one can get some snacks and beverages like tea/ coffee.
- Buses provided by tourism department will take you to the top of the mountain almost up to 5 km.
- You can return at your convenient time. There is no restriction that you have to select a particular bus.
- Online booking should be done at least 48 hours before the day of visit, if needed.
- Park will be closed in February and March every year due to the calving season of Nilgiri Tahr.
Traveler's Experience
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Detailed Information
Eravikulam was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1975. It was given the status of a National park then in 1978 .The main aim behind this was to protect Hemitragus Hylocrious and the Nilgiri Tahr, which are common here. But now the park is home to numerous protected species of flora and fauna.The national park is divided into three areas - the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area. In which, the Rajamalai is known to be the tourism area of the park.
Grasslands, shrublands and Shola forests are are three major kinds of vegetation in these areas. The high plateaus and hillys regions of the park are primarily covered by the grasslands while the shrubland is more visible along the base of the cliffs. There are numerous small patches of forests in hollows and gullies in these areas.The Shola forests are located in the valleys between the hills and plateaus. Different kinds of small mosses, lichen are also found here. The deeper valleys are extensively forested.
Nilgiri Tahr the closest relatives of sheeps and the state animal of Tamilnadu is called Varaiaadu in Tamil. The word Varaiaadu is derived from the Tamil words wurrai meaning "precipice" and aadu meaning "goat". In Malayalam, it is Varayaadu. By the early 20th century as few as 100 Nilgiri tahrs were left in the wild. A comprehensive study of the Nilgiri tahr population in Western Ghats by the WWF-India shows that their numbers have increased since then and Eravikulam National Park is home to the largest population.
Only 15 minutes is required to travel from Munnar to Eravikulam National Park. Trekking and other activities at Eravikulam are limited to the tourism zone. Trekkers get a fabulous view of valley from here and can also spend some good time at Lakkom waterfalls. The vast tea plantation in the terrains is an extremely beautiful site. The landscapes and view points are perfect for photography.
