Hidden gem of nature, the most beautiful forest patches in Kerala I Eravikulam National Park. Get to know more about the habitat flora & fauna and how to reach Eravikulam National Park
Eravikulam National parkEravikulam National Park, is the 1st National park. of Kerala has an area of 97sq. km. It was notified in 1978 to protect the endemic and endangered Nilgiri Tahr and its habitat. The park has the largest stretch of the undisturbed montane shola-grassland ecosystem in the Western Ghats. Anamudy (2695 m.), the highest peak south of the Himalayas, is located within the park. It was part of erstwhile Kanan Devan Hills concession land and before becoming a National Park, the area was the hunting reserve of the colonial tea planters.
How to Reach Eravikulam National Park:
7 Km from Munnar Town
Nearest Airports: Cochin International Airport, Kochi 116 km
Nearest Railway Station: Aluva Railway station 120km
Taxis and rickshaws run any time of the day to this national park and if you wish to take public transport you can catch buses to marayur, udumalpettai, and kanthalloor which are available at periodic intervals.
Eravikulam National Park is open to the public from April to January as February and March are the calving periods of the Nilgiri Tahr. The park is open from 8.00 AM to 4 PM on all days. Ticket charges are fixed according to age and nationality. The national park now provides the facility to book tickets online too from its website or you can directly scan the QR code provided at the booking counter or parking bay.
India Adult: ₹200
Indian Children(5-12 Years): ₹150
Foreign Adult: ₹500
Ordinary Camera – ₹50
Video Camera: ₹350
National Park provides all the amenities such as
◆1st aid nurses
◆Baby comfort station for breastfeeding
◆Reverse osmosis drinking water
◆Electronic Toilets
◆Coffee shop and snack bar
◆Electric Buggy Van (₹500 for a round trip)
The National Park authorities provide their bus from the parking bay to the national park entrance which is a scenic route where we can enjoy the vast Kannan Devan hill tea plantations which is quite a sight in the beginning. Once you reach the entrance, they have a snack bar and coffee shop, a Souvenir Shop, and also there is the “Story of the park building” which briefs about the history of the national park and its reasons for origin. Various photos connect you with the long history of Munnar during the colonial rule and also give wide information about the flora and fauna of the park.
The park is widely known for the mountain goat Nilgiri Tahr which is the keystone species of wild goat in India. More than half of the population of the Nilgiri Tahr roams around in this National park. Barking deer, Sambar, Gaur, Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, and Wild Boar also thrive here. Eravikulam is also the migratory route to the Great Asiatic Elephant from the Anamalais to the Cardamom Hills.
The park is well known for the “Neelakurinji”.A Beautiful endemic shrub that changes the color of montane grasslands to a twinkling blue due to its gregarious flowering but once in 12 years. These grasslands seem to borrow the attractive color of the blue sky for a moment every 12th year. The grasslands enjoy the feeling of a new mother who delivered her first son after waiting for 12 long years of pregnancy.
It takes roughly an hour to two to enjoy the walk of around 1.2 km inside the allowed regions of the National park. The walkable areas are very well maintained as motorized roads. There are options for hiring an Electric buggy for Rs500 for a round trip, but we would suggest you take a walk through this amazing park and you can click infinite photos on your way to the top. If you are lucky enough you can enjoy the mist on your way through. You can spend as much time as you would like to but avoid touching the animals or disturbing the habitat by any means. Once you get back to the entrance, some buses leave from the entrance to the parking bay at regular intervals. Also, you can collect memories of your visit such as stickers or t-shirts from the souvenir shop on your way back from the national park.
