Eravikulam National Park

Eravikulam National Park is the first of its kind located in Munnar, Kerala. It is Kerala’s first national park. This    park is famous for its collection of tahr. Nilgiri tahr is a goat-like species that is endangered. One can easily spot tahr in this park. Some rare animals and endangered species of butterflies can be spotted here. The park is also famous for great view of tea plantations, rolling hills and neelakurunji. Neelakurunji is a blue colored flower, which blooms once in 12 years. During the summer season, the valleys will be covered with blue carpet made of Neelakurinji. The park is also famous for Anamudi Peak, which is the highest peak in South India.

The Eravikulam National Park covers 97 square kilometer area along the famous Western Ghats. Munnar wildlife division and the Forest and wildlife division of Kerala run it. The park is a heritage site. The Eravikulam national park’s terrain includes hill plateau, grasslands, sholas, mountain peak, perennial streams that merge with Periyar River or Pam    River, waterfalls and others.

In 1975 Eravikulam was declared as a wildlife sanctuary and then in 1978 it was given the status of a National park. The main motive behind this was to protect the rare Nilgiri Tahr and Hemitragus Hylocrius, 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. Here, the tourists are allowed to travel deep into the forest to explore the hidden beauty of the environment around. Private vehicles are not allowed inside. Only a few mini buses are operated inside in order to control the environment pollution. The trips are organized by the forest department.

Most of the areas of the national park are a consistent hill plateau. So, you can see only high rolling slopes here. The highest peak is Anamudi (2690m). The forests you see here are commonly known as ‘shoals’ – evergreen tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest. You can locate small streams here, which later merge to form tributaries to Periyar and Chalakudy rivers. Lakkam waterfalls are located in this region.
The park has a rare collection of varieties of trees and shrubs. You can find here the climax grasslands. The variety of orchids is one of the specialties of this park. Apart from Nilgiri Tahr, one can find around 26 different species of mammals at this park. A number of elephants, langurs and marten can be found here. About 120 species of birds like black and orange flycatcher, Nilgiri pipit, Nilgiri wood pigeon, white bellied shortwing and Kerala laughing thrush can be spotted at Eravikulam National Park.

Getting there
Nearest railway station: Aluva Railway Station, about 119 km
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 118 km
Google map coordinates: 42VR+FW Kannan Devan Hills, Kerala