:: Eravikulam National Park
The Eravikulam National Park stands out for the stark beauty of its rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97 sq km in the Rajamalai hills. It is a sanctuary for the endangered mountain goat of South India , the Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrious). Its location is 15 km away from Munnar.
The slopes of the hills abound in all kinds of rare flora and fauna. Anamudi, the highest peak (2695 m) south of the Himalayas , towers over the sanctuary in majestic pride. The Atlas moth, the largest of its kind in the world, is a unique inhabitant of the park. Other rare species of fauna found here are the Nilgiri Langur, the lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers, etc. An ideal place for trekking, facilities are provided here and tourists are allowed to go on foot up to Anamudi.
This sanctuary is a protected area and it 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. The visitors are not allowed here during the monsoon season.
Access through:
Road: Eravikulam is 15 kms from Munnar.
Rail: Kottayam, about 142 km from Munnar; Ernakulam, about 130 km from Munnar.
Air: Madurai (Tamilnadu) about 142 km; Cochin International Airport , about 150 km.
Visiting hours: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm .
