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Parambikulam
Location:
130
kilometers away from Palakkd
Parambikulam
Wild Life Sanctuary extends over an area of
285 sq. kilometers. It offers a
scintillating sight of rare wild animals.
There are quite a few hill tribes here like
Malayars, Kadas and Muthuvaas. Boat cruises
can be arranged in the Parambikulam
Reservoir. The Rest House of the State
Forest Department at Thoonakkadvu,
Thellikkal and Elathode offer comfortable
lodging facilities. A tree house in the
Reserved Forest area in Thoonakkadavu has to
be booked in advance.
Chinnar
Wildlife Sanctuary
Location: 60 kilometers from Munnar
Situated
on the Tamil Nadu border, the Chinnar
Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across 90.44
sq. kilometers. Animals: Most of the
South Indian wild animals can be found in
this forest. These include the grizzled
giant squirrel, champal squirrel, elephant,
sambar, gaur, deer, etc.
Birds: Jungle fowl, myna, laughing thrush,
black bulbul, peafowl etc.
Tribes: Mainly Malampulayer and Muthuvans.
Access: Munnar-Udumelpetta Road: 60
kilometers
Coimbatore-Udumalpetta-Chinnar Road-100
kilometers
Cochin-Chinnar: 190 kilometers
Parambikulam-via Pollachi-Chinnar.
Pollachi-Chinnar via Udumalpetta: 60
kilometers
Kottayam-Chinnar; 208 kilometers .
Visiting Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Entry
passes are available at the office of the
ACF or the Check Post Information Counter.
Eravikulam
National Park
Location: 35 kilometers from Munnar
The 97 sq. kilometers park is situated
in the Devikulam Taluk and is home to the
Nilgiri Tahr. The Anamudi peak
(2695m) is located in the southern region of
the park.
Sanctuary visit: The park is divided in to
three regions-the core area, the buffer area
and the tourism area. Visitors are allowed
only to the tourism area which is in the
Rajamala regions. The Nilgiri Tahr can be
seen at close quarters in this area.
Visiting time: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Visitors
are not allowed during the monsoon.
Trekking facilities available here. Tourists
are allowed to go on foot up to Anamudi.
This is also a place for adventure tourists.
The permitting authority is Wildlife Warden,
Munnar.
The
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady
One
of the world's most fascinating natural
wildlife sanctuary, Thekkady is noted for
its geomorphology, wildlife and scenic
beauty. The Periyar Tiger Reserve attracts
travelers from all over the world. 360 sq.
kilometers of the 777-sq. kilometers
sanctuary is covered with evergreen forests.
The 27 sq. kilometers artificial lake
formed by the Idukki Dam across the Periyar
River offers boating facilities. This is the
only sanctuary in India where the wild
elephant can be observed and photographed at
close quarters from the safety of a boat.
A boat cruise on the lake is perhaps the
best way to watch the wildlife in the
reserve.
Periyar Wildlife
Sanctuary-Population
Over
1800 flowering plants including 171 grass
species, 143 species of orchids and the only
South Indian conifer Podocarpus Wallichianus
are found here. Among fauna, wild elephants,
gaur, sambar, bison, deer and wild boar can
be sighted from the boats. Nilgiri Tahr in
the higher rocky areas, the endangered Lion
tailed macaque confined to the evergreen
interiors, Bonnet macaque, Malabar giant
squirrel, Flying squirrel, Tiger, Jungle cat
etc. are also seen.
Birds
There are 265 species including
migrants. The hornbill, stroke, woodpecker,
kingfisher, raptor, cormorant, grackle and
darter are common sights.
Reptiles
Cobra, viper, Krait, a number of
nonpoisonous snakes, the monitor lizard and
so on.
Amphibians
Frogs, Toads and Limbless caecilians include
the colorful Malabar gliding frog,Common
Indian toad, Fungoid and Bicolor frog.
Pisces (fish)
The Periyar lake and streams have
several species of fish including the masheer, the famous and endangered game fish
of India. The otter, the only mammal of the
lake is a frequent sight from boat.
The Sanctuary Watch Towers
There are two watchtowers in the
interior of the Periyar forest. Reservations
can be made at the Forest Information
Center, Thekkady.
Plantations
Tea, cardamom, pepper and coffee
plantations surround the Periyar Wildlife
Sanctuary. Twelve varieties of spices grow
in the neighboring villages. Pepper,
cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, ginger,
turmeric, nutmeg, cumin seed, garlic, star
anise and so on.
Trekking
Mangaladevi Hills, Mullakkudy, Thannikudy,
Vallimala and so on. Forest treks are
arranged by the Forest Department. For
booking contact: The Wildlife Preservation
Officer, Thekkady.
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
Location: 20
kilometers from Kothamangalam
Though recently established,
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is one of the most
important bird sanctuary in South India. A
boat cruise from Bhoothathankettu to
Thattekkad is an unforgettable
experience through the evergreen
forests nesting migratory and
indigenous birds. The birds commonly seen
are Malabar gray hornbill, Grey jungle fowl,
Heron egret, Parackeet and numerous other
rare species. Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary
Warblers & Waders, a city-based group of
nature lovers conducted a bird survey in the
area in December 1999. The team identified
the Dollar Bird (Kaattu Panamkaakka),
a threatened species at the evergreen forest
in the sanctuary.
Another species identified was the Forest
Eagle Owl, which was frequently located at
the Thattekkad-Urulanthanni region. The
Blacknapped orion, a winter visitor, was
observed in the tourist zone of the
locality. The Specled Piculet, the smallest
woodpecker of Kerala, Rufous Woodpecker,
which raises its family in the live nest of
red ants, Drongo Cockoo, Rufous bellied
Munia and the Hair-crested Drongo
were also sighted during the course of the
survey.
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