India4u - Regional - Kerala - Tourism

Wildlife Sanctuaries / National Parks

Feast your eyes on the most exotic of wildlife. And realize that there's much more to life when a deer stops to look at you. When a monkey decides to renew acquaintance. When a blue-winged parakeet sings for you.

This sanctuary was set up specially for the preservation of Nilgiri Tahr, one of the endangered animals. Now the number of tahrs has increased and they constitute the largest known population of tahrs existing in the world. In addition to tahr, the park shelters elephants, sambars, gaurs, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, tigers and leopards. Accommodation and board facilities are available at Munnar, the nearest town, which is connected to Kottayam (148 km.) and Ernakulam (130 km.) by road. There is a motorable road till Rajamally. Further, travel is on foot, but the trekking is enjoyable.

Eravikulam National Park

Silent Valley National Park

The Silent Valley National Park contains India’s last substantial stretch of tropical evergreen rain forests and it is perhaps the only vestige of a near virgin forest in the whole of the Western Ghats. Elephants, tigers, wild dogs, flying squirrels and lion-tailed macaque are found here.

Vehicular traffic is allowed up to Mukkali from Mannarghat. From Mukkali, one has to cover at least
24 km on foot to reach the source of the river Kuntipuzha, which flows through the valley.

The nearest railhead is Palghat, 75 km away. Admission to this part is restricted. Prior permission is required to visit this area. For further details contact: The Divisional Forest Officer, Palghat.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady

The most renowned destination is the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady, one of India's major sanctuary areas. The drive to Thekkady itself is enchanting as the road winds through tranquil countryside, rich plantations and thick jungles.

The sanctuary offers a lovely and comfortable way to see the animals via boat rides on the man-made lake, which the forests encircle. In addition to the wild life, there are water and land birds here, and one can sometimes find dedicated bird watchers setting in for one or two weeks of serious observations. Covering an area of 777 sq. km. of lush green tropical forests, it is the natural habitat of elephants, bison, spotted deer, sambar, bear etc. Colourful variety of birds like the Malabar Grey Hornbill, Grey jungle fowl and the Jungle Myna are seen.

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
This bird sanctuary is a peninsular land of 25 sq. km, formed between the branches of River Periyar. The rivers are rich in fish life and are shallow for most of the year. The avifauna includes both resting indigenous birds and water birds. The most notable of the indigenous birds are Malabar grey hornbill, grey jungle fowl, heron, egret, jungle myna, wood pecker, rose winged and blue winged parakeet. Rare birds like the Ceylon frog-mouth, rose billed roller etc. are also found here.

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

Parambikulam is endowed with luxuriant vegetation. It has one of the largest population of gaur (bison). Sambar, spotted deer, jungle cat, lion-tailed macaque, common otter, sloth bear etc. are also seen. There are also a few tigers and leopards. Facilities for boarding and lodging are available at the sanctuary. There are forest rest houses at Thunacadavu, Thellikkal and Elathode. Motor transport and boat cruise can be arranged on request.

The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu is across the border.

Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary is situated just above the arch dam. An area of 70 sq. km. of forest land in between the Periyar and Cheruthoni rivers form an excellent habitat for wildlife. Elephants, bisons, bear, wild boars, sambar etc are found in this area. The lake on the three sides of the sanctuary offers a panoramic view.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Proximity to Eravikulam National Park and Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu makes Chinnar rich in wildlife. This sanctuary is easily accessible from Udumalpet in Tamil Nadu and Munnar in Kerala

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary

Elephants, sloth bear, sambar, mouse-deer etc. are found in this sanctuary. It is also rich in avifauna and reptiles. This sanctuary is easily accessible from Kannur.

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary

Peppara is accessible from Vithurai on Thiruvananthapuram – Ponmudi road. This sanctuary with its rich fauna and birds is emerging as a big attraction to wildlife enthusiasts. It is spread over an area of 53 sq. km. on the Western Ghats. This is dotted with large hills and numerous hillocks with forests and eucalyptus plantations. Elephants, Sambars, Leopards and Lion tailed macaque are commonly seen.

Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
The Neyyar reservoir is easily navigable and extends 9.06 sq. km. The vegetation varies from tropical wet evergreen to grasslands. Agasthyakoodam of 1890 meters elevation is in this sanctuary. Elephants, gaur, sloth bear, Nilgiri Tahr, jungle cats, wild boars, Nilgiri Langur etc. are seen. A crocodile breeding center, deer farm and lion safari park are the main attractions near the dam site.

Peechi / Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary

It lies in the catchment areas of Peechi and Vazhani dams in Trichur district. Peechi, the headquarters of the sanctuary, is 15 km by road from Trissur.

Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary

It is 40 km from Mananthavady. There are no bus services to Nagarhole from Mananthavady. Jeeps and trucks are available. From Cannanore, Tellicherry and Calicut there are frequent buses to Mananthavady. There is a PWD Rest House, Forest Rest House and Forest Inspection Bungalow at Mananthavady. The reservation authorities are the District Collector, Waynad and the DFO, Mananthavady. There are also mid range hotels and an Indian Coffee House here.