Eravikulam National Park complete detail – updated

Eravikulam National Park complete detail – updated. Geography of Eravikulam National Park. Dominant flora and fauna of Eravikulam National Park. How to Reach Eravikulam National Park. Total area of the park is about 97 Km². It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in the year of 1975. The park is famous for its biodiversity.

It has the largest population of endangered (IUCN) Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius). The entry of private vehicles is prohibited in the park. Only few mini buses are operated inside in order to control the environment pollution. The trips are organized by the forest department. The park is also the land of “Neelakurinji”, a flower that blooms once in twelve years. The Park is breathtakingly beautiful and is easily comparable to the best of mountain ranges in the Alps…………….

The park is an ideal habitat for for wildlife like Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Indian Muntjac, Sambar Deer, Nilgiri langur, Indian Porcupine, Nilgiri Marten, Small clawed otter and Elephants. The park also home to many 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.

National park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of the wildlife & biodiversity, and where activities like developmental, forestry, poaching, hunting and grazing on cultivation are not permitted. Their boundaries are well marked and circumscribed.

Eravikulam National Park

Eravikulam National Park is a beautiful place, located along the Western Ghats in the Idukki district of the state of Kerala. Eravikulam National Park is also known as Rajamalai National Park.

It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in the year of 1975. This Wildlife Sanctuary was attained the status of a National Park in the year of 1978. Total area of the park is about 97 Km². The main motive behind this was to protect and conserve rare Nilgiri Tahr.

The park is famous for its biodiversity. It has the largest population of endangered (IUCN) Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius).

Click here to view State wise list of Indian state birds (symbols) – updated

The entry of private vehicles is prohibited in the park. Only few mini buses are operated inside in order to control the environment pollution. The trips are organized by the forest department.

The park is also the land of “Neelakurinji”, a flower that blooms once in twelve years. The Park is breathtakingly beautiful and is easily comparable to the best of mountain ranges in the Alps.

Eravikulam National Park has been divided into three major regions – the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area. Every year the park closes during February-March for about 30 to 45 days for the birth season and also the wildlife authorities conduct Census of the new born animals in the park.

The park is an ideal habitat for wildlife like Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Indian Muntjac, Sambar Deer, Nilgiri langur, Indian Porcupine, Nilgiri Marten, Small clawed otter and Elephants.

The park also home to many 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.

The Eravikulam National Park is covered with grassland, shrubs and forest. The park has a rare collection of varieties of trees and shrubs.

History

In past, Park was a hunting preserve for the British planters and was owned by Rajamalai and Eravikulam during the British rule and then was forked over to Kanan Devan Hills for tea plantation.

The responsibility for the management and protection of the area was vested with the High Range Game Preservation Association, a pioneer non-governmental organization in this area, which was formed in 1928.

Click here to view State wise list of Indian National Parks – updated

The government of Kerala resumed control in the year of 1971. In the year of 1975 it was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as a National Park in the year of 1978. The main motive behind this was to protect and conserve rare Nilgiri Tahr.

Geography

Eravikulam National Park is located along the Western Ghats in the Idukki district of the state of Kerala. The park consists of a high rolling hill plateau with a base elevation of about 2,000 m. The terrain consists of high altitude grasslands interspersed with sholas.

The Park comprising of a high rolling plateau with a base elevation of about 2000 meters from mean sea level.

The park has been divided into three major regions – the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area. Many perennial streams criss-cross the park. They merge to form tributaries of the Periyar River and Chalakudiyar River on the west and the east flowing Cauvery River in Tamil Nadu.

Eravikulam National Park is located on the higher altitudes of the Western Ghats. The topography of this area primarily consists of high altitude grasslands sprinkled with patches of stunted evergreen tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, which are popularly known as ‘shoals’.

Three major types of plant communities are found in the Park-grasslands, shrub land and forests. The high plateau and the hills rising above it, are primarily covered by grasslands. Lakkom Waterfalls is located in this region.

Shrub lands are seen along the bases of the cliffs. Shola forests are located in the valleys and folds. Turner’s valley, which splits the Park roughly in half from northwest to southeast, is the deepest.

The climate of this region is greatly influenced by the south-western monsoon. June, July and August are the monsoon months and this is the period when the region receives maximum rainfall while April and May are the hottest months. January and February receive little rain and the weather is generally clear during this time of the year.

The average annual rainfall is about 3000 mm.

Latitude – 10º05’N – 10º20’N, Longitude – 77º0’E – 77º10’E

Dominant flora

Eravikulam National Park is densely populated with a number of grasses, trees and shrubs.

Eupatorium glandulosum, Microtropis ramiflora, Actinodaphne bourdilloni, Pittosporum tetraspermium, Chrysopogon Zelanieus, Eupatorium adenophorum, Sysygium aronottianum, Strobilanthus Kunthianus, Tripogen bromodes, Arundinella fuscata, Eulalia phaeothrix, Cyanotis Species, etc.

Dominant fauna

Mammals – Nilgiri tahr, Elephants, Langur, Marten, Small-clawes Otter, Tigers, Leopards, Spotted here, Wild dogs, Sloth bear, Lion-tailed macaque, Sambar deer, Golden jackal, Jungle cat, Nilgiri langur, Mangoose  etc.

Birds – Black flycatcher, Nilgiri wood pigeon, Nilgiri pipit, Nilgiri verditer flycatcher, White bellied shortwing, Kerala laughing thrush etc.

Other Attractions

Anamudi Peak

Atukkad Waterfalls

Echo Point

Lakkom Waterfalls

Forest Rose

Munnar

Vagamon

Safari

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary

Fee

Indians – Rs. 15/- Per person

Indian children’s – Rs. 5/- Per person

Foreigners – Rs. 200/- Per person

Ordinary cameras – Rs. 25/-

Video cameras – Rs. 2000/-

Timings

7 AM – 6 PM (Daily)

The park closed for 45-60 days from 1st February during the calving season.

Best time to visit

The best time of the year to visit the Eravikulam National Park is between the months of September to November and April to June.

The park is closed for the visitors during the monsoon.

How to Reach

By Air – Nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, about 150 Km from the Eravikulam National Park. Cochin International Airport is well connected by road to Eravikulam National Park.

By Rail – Nearest railway station is Aluva railway station, about 120 Km from the Eravikulam National Park. Aluva railway station is well connected by road to Eravikulam National Park.

By Road – Eravikulam National Park is well connected to Major Cities and Places by road network. There are a number of government and privately operated vehicles that go to Eravikulam National Park at frequent intervals. Munnar is the nearest town.

Other National Parks in Kerala. Name of National Parks, Year of Notification and Total Area is as follows…