Eravikulam National Park Munnar (Timings, History, Entry Fee, Images & Information)

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Eravikulam National Park is located in the Southern Western Ghats near Idukki, Kerala. The name Eravikulam translates to streams and pools, which is the best description of the national park. The area of the park used to be managed as a Game Preserve till 1978 when the Government of Kerala elevated its status to that of a National Park.

The area of the park was home to the now highly endangered Nilgiri Tahr. It was placed under protection in this habitat in 1975. Eravikulam National park is spread over an area of 92 square kilometers and is covered with high altitude grasslands.

The main natural structure of the National Park is a central rolling plateau which is at an elevation of 2000 meters from the sea level. This park is full of undulating terrain and the highest peak in the region is Anamudi at 2695 meters.

The three major kinds of vegetation in the area include grasslands, shrublands and Shola forests. High plateaus and hills surrounding the park are primarily covered by the grasslands while the shrubland is more visible along the base of the cliffs. The Shola forests are located in the valleys between the hills and plateaus. Turner’s Valley is the deepest valley of this region and it roughly divides the park into two parts: the northwest and southwest regions.

History of Eravikulam National Park

The national park was managed as a Game Reserve till 1971 by the Kannan Devan Hill Produce Company. Management and protection of this area had been under the jurisdiction of the High Range Game Preservation Association, a non-Governmental organization of the area which was formed back in 1928.

The Eravikulam National Park attracted several hunters, naturalists, and scientists due to the unique feature of its land, climate, and remoteness. Early European explorers like Colonel Douglas Hamilton and J.D. Munro started settling in this area as they established the North Travancore Plantation and Agricultural Society in 1879.

They acquired an area of 227 sq. miles at a concessional price from Poonjat Raja, who was the chief of the local kingdom. Subsequently, the land was auctioned among the citizens of the society for agriculture and various plantation crops such as coffee and cinchona were cultivated.

The first tea in the High Ranges was planted back in 1890, and soon the area was being used for extensive cultivation of tea and eucalyptus by clearing out natural vegetation. Other than farming, the British hunters had an interest in hunting activities and had separate areas for amusement. The animals they hunted included Nilgiri Tahr, Sambar Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Gaur, Tiger, and Leopard.

When the Government of Kerala received the land that was not being used for cultivation, according to the Kannan Devan Hills Act of 1971, they planned to distribute it for agricultural purposes. The intervention of planters, naturalists, and scientists in 1975 resulted in the Government's declaration of the place as Eravikulam-Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.

The area was later upgraded to the status of a National Park in 1978, which was managed by the Munnar Division. The Management of the company changed hands and is now handled by the High Range Wildlife Environmental Preservation Association, who have come together with the Forest Department in maintaining and managing the park with an intensive mission of protecting the Nilgiri Tahr.

The Significance of Eravikulam National Park

There are several factors that come together to prove the significance and value of the national park, culturally, ecologically and sociologically. Some of these reasons are:

1. This park presently houses the largest population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr and is also the famous habitat of Neelakurunji which blooms only once every 12 years. Apart from these, the park is also home to Nilgiri Marten, Ruddy Mongoose, Small Clawed Otter, Dusky Striped Squirrel, and other animals.

2. The park is regionally important for fish and freshwater since it has the tributaries of River Pambar in the east and tributaries of the River Periyar and Chalakuddy in the west which helps to maintain the climate, provide drinking water and provide water for irrigation in parts of the Aanjanad Valley.

3. The highest peak of the Indian Peninsula lies in the national park. Anamudi (2695m) is also the highest peak of southern India. The sharp cliffs around the park provide a flat tableland that is responsible for the unique microclimate of the area. Even though the park falls in the latitudinal tropical region, it exhibits an extratropical climate due to its altitudinal influence.

4. The park is also famous for medicinal plants in the region such as the Drosera peltata and wild species of cultivated plants such Piper schmidtii and Elettaria cardamomum, which adds to the conversational significance of Eravikulam National Park.

5. This region is also a prime tourist spot as this park is the prime attraction of Munnar and is now one of the major tourist destinations in the whole of India. The aesthetic grandeur of the forest is an opportunity to see the endangered Nilgiri Tahr up close and the waterfall at Lakkam attracts more than 5,00,000 visitors annually.

6. The park along with Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Pampadum Shola National Park, Kurinjimala Sanctuary, Anamudi Shola National Park and Anamalai Tiger Reserve forms the largest conservation landscapes in the Western Ghats region.

7. This park also provides academic opportunities to study the biodiversity of montane vegetation and the inner workings of the ecosystem. The place also serves as a field laboratory for different activities such as conservation education, precipitation management, and research monitoring.

Exciting Fauna at Eravikulam National Park

The fauna of this beautiful national park consists of a lot of animals, amphibians, birds, and butterflies. It is full of beautiful creatures that can be only found in the hills of the Western Ghats. Some of the fauna reported here are described below:

● Animals: There is a large variety of animals in this national park that survive on the existing vegetation of the national park, which is in turn controlled by the quality of the soil, the type of climate of the area, and rainfall conditions.

There are about seventeen mammals, eleven birds and seven butterflies indigenous to the Western Ghats area. There are a total of 48 species of Mammals present at the park, including Nilgiri Tahr and Nilgiri Marten, out of which 17 are endemic to the Western Ghats. Other creatures at the park include amphibians, birds and butterflies.

● Birds: There are a total of one hundred and thirty-three species of birds in the National Park out of which almost eleven species are endemic to the Western Ghats.

Some of the famous birds found in the area are Jungle Bush Quail(Perdicula Asiatica), Indian Golden Backed Three-Toed Woodpecker(Dinopium Javanese), Small Green Barbet(Megalaima Viridis), White Breasted Kingfisher(Halcyon smyrnensis), and Indian Lorikeet(Loriculus Vernalis) among others.

● Butterflies: Eravikulam National Park is famous for its butterflies. There are a huge number of butterflies in the region that add to the aesthetic of the park. The area has a total of about a hundred species of butterflies in the region that have been identified by academicians. Out of these only 11 are endemic to the Western Ghats.

There are several butterflies available here that have become endangered and it is extremely important to take conservative measures for such species. A few of the endangered butterflies in the region are Southern Birdwing(Troides minos), the Malabar Raven(Papilio dravidarum), Red Disk Bush Brown(Mycalesis oculus) butterflies, the Palni Fourring(Ypthima ypthimoides), the Nilgiri Tiger(Parantica nilgiriensis) which is also indigenous to Western Ghats, the White Disk Hedge Blue(Celatoxia albidisca) butterflies and the extremely rare Tamil Darlet(Oriens concinna).

● Reptiles: Even though the national park lies in the tropical zone, due to the microclimate that has formed in the area, it has become hard for reptiles to survive here. This makes it increasingly important to help conserve the species of animals that are exclusive to the Eravikulam region.

The park itself has a total of only 13 species of reptiles out of which five species are lizards and the rest 8 are snakes. Ten out of the thirteen species of reptiles in the region are available in the Western Ghats.

Some of the lizards and snakes available in the area are the Anamalai Spiny Lizard(Salea anamallayana), Keeled Grass Skink(Mabuya carinata), Palni Shield Tail Snake(Uropeltis pulneyensis), Buff Striped Keelback(Amphiesma stolata), Gunther’s Vine Snake(Ahaetulla dispar) and the Perrotet's Mountain Snake(Xylophis perroteti).

● Amphibians: Due to the freshwater supply in the region from the rivers in Eravikulam and the extra tropical climate, several amphibians are also available within the national park. There are a total of twenty-one species of amphibians which have been reported at the park out of which a majority of 17 are endemic to the Fauna of Eravikulam National Park.

Some rare kinds of amphibians in the area include Ridged Toad(Bufo parietalis), Leith’s Leaping Frog(Indirana leithii), Bicolored Frog(Rana curtipus), Yellow-Bellied Bush Frog(Philautus flaviventris) and the Boulenger’s Bubble Nest Frog(Philautus signatus).

● Fish: The freshwater rivers and other water bodies present in the Eravikulam region have a lot of marine life out of which most of it is caught for produce. There are four species of fish that have been identified here. Out of this, the main three species of fish that can be commonly found in the region are, Lipped Algae Eater(Horalabiosa joshuai), Cardamon Garra(Garra hughi) and the common Rainbow Trout(Salmo gairdneri gairdneri).

All these animals, mammals, birds, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians and fish together make up the fauna of this ecosystem. A majority of these creatures are endangered, or endemic to the region making it extremely important to look after them and help them grow and survive. You will be able to see a majority of these animals on your visit to the park. However, the endangered ones are sighted rarely.

Breathtaking Flora of Eravikulam National Park

The flora of this massive region depends on the climate and the rainfall that it receives. These factors influence factors like the type and form of vegetation of the forest, the forest cover, the flowers and medicinal plants that grow in the forest. Let us take a deeper look into the flora of Eravikulam:

● Vegetation: There are mostly three different plant communities found in the region. These different forms of vegetation are:

• Grasslands: Grasslands constitute over 60 percent of the land cover in Eravikulam, which means these places are mostly covered in wild grass with a few scattered trees here and there.
• Shola Forest: The Shola forest region makes up for about 20 to 25 percent of the land area. Shola is the local name for the patches of tropical montane forests of the area.
• Shrublands: These include the remaining areas which are mostly full of scrubs, rocky cliffs, and very small sections of Southern Tropical Hill Forests.

The vegetation of this area has nearly three hundred species of grass in the grasslands, around twenty-two species of Bryophytes which are basically mosses, around twelve species of pteridophytes which are vascular plants or trees and over a hundred species of fungi.

● Forest Cover: There are about two major physiognomic units of forests found within the Eravikulam National Park which are the Grasslands and the Shola Forests, classified as Southern Montane Wet Temperate Forests. These forests are present on the plateau and cover the hollows and valleys. A small portion of the park is also covered by other forests such as the Southern West Coast Evergreen Forests on the western side of the park and the Moist Deciduous Forests in the east.

On the western end where the forest merges with the Anamudi Reserve forest, a small segment of the national park shows signs of Tropical Evergreen Forests. Here the trees are tall and green with typical evergreen species such as the Mesua ferrea, Cullenia excelsa, Palaquium ellipticum.

On the other side, there is a small portion of deciduous forests towards the eastern periphery close to the Talliar estate. These forests have trees such as Rosewood and Pterocarpus while the undergrowth is mostly Lantana. It is due to the microclimate of the area that deciduous, evergreen forests can survive next to grasslands. This unique form of forestation should be protected as much as possible.

● Floristics: Eravikulam National Park is extremely rich in types of flowers due to its unique climate conditions. A huge number of seventy-six Pteridophytes and seven hundred and twenty-seven Angiosperms were recorded in the park, making it a mind-blowing number of 803 different types of flowers. Dicotyledons are the dominating type of flowers with over five hundred different species found within the park; monocotyledons represent about two hundred and twenty-two species of flowers.

There are ten other dominant families such as Poaceae, Orchidaceae, Asteraceae, Rubiaceae, Balsaminaceae, Acanthaceae, Papilionaceae, Lauraceae, Melastomataceae, and Lamiaceae. Fern groups of flowers are found here, with a total of seventy-six species of fern flowers, with most of them being endemic to Eravikulam. Out of nearly one hundred and ninety species of flowers that are exclusively found in this region, 89 have been placed under various threat categories. Some of the endemics of the region are Anaphalis barnesii, Begonia aliciae, Didymocarpus macrostachya and Habanarai flabelliformis.

● Medicinal Plants: The Eravikulam National Forest located in the Western Ghats has an area of over 200 hectares which is under the Medicinal Plant Conservation Area (MPCA) which stretches from the base of Anamudi into Eravikulam. This area is protected from fire incidents annually for its better conservation. Plants are medicinally used in practices such as Ayurveda, Homoeopathy and Unani medicine.

The plants that mostly come under protection are:

• Wild Plants growing in forests, grasslands, aquatic ecosystems or ones that are associated with any other form of natural vegetation.
• Plants that are growing as weeds in the forest.
• Plants cultivated for cereal, fruit, vegetables, spices, oil or any other cash crop.
• Plants cultivated as medicinal crops for medicinal purposes only.

The Eravikulam region is extremely rich in terms of medicinal plants as the forests and hills of this park house about 700 medicinal plants. Some of them are used for traditional or folk medicinal practices in the area, while others are exploited commercially for active enzymes or any other commercial value.

Image Gallery of Eravikulam National Park Munnar

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Things to do at Eravikulam National Park

Eravikulam National Park offers a wide range of memorable activities to try your hand at. This park is nothing short of a paradise, with the innumerable activities they have prepared for the visitors. The escape into the lap of nature is nothing short of a luxury and Eravikulam National Park makes it a rejuvenating vacation as you mingle with nature, enjoy seeing animals in their natural habitat and relish the rich flora all around. The activities at Eravikulam National Park are adventurous, fun and relaxing and they include:

1. Nilgiri Tahr: Eravikulam National Park is home to a vast population of Nilgiri Tahr which is an endangered species of goat with short, dark, coarse hair, and a mane. This is a rare sight and a story you can tell for generations to come. According to the update in Eravikulam National Park’s visitor management system, the best way to see these rare creatures is to walk for about a kilometer on a black road to the junction where they reside. They are habituated and courteous to human presence over the years.

2. Interpretation Centre: In this day and age, information regarding the preservation of naturalistic areas such as the Eravikulam National Park often falls on deaf ears. The amount of ignorance we have regarding the environment is very alarming. A step for a more educated society over environmental subjects, Eravikulam National Park has its own interpretation center called "Story of the Park' that exhibits infographic and exciting demonstrations, aiming to teach visitors the significance of biodiversity.

3. Anamudi Peak: This is the highest mountain peak in South India located along the border of districts; Ernakulam, Kothamangalam, Idukki and Devikulam. The name of the peak literally translates to an ‘elephant’s head’ because of the unique shape of the mountain. Standing at a height of 2695 meters, the peak is a sight to behold. Entry to the top of the mountain is restricted to only visual appeal from a distance from Rajamala.

4. Rajamala: The tourism section of Eravikulam National Park is called Rajamala and is home to all the wonders of the park. It is here where the Nilgiri Tahr lives, and the variety of beautiful vegetation and animals have formed their own private ecosystem. A visit to Eravikulam National Park is literally a visit to Rajamala. It remains closed during the months of February to March, every year since it is calving season.

Entry Timings: 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Entry Fee: Rs. 120 for Adults, Rs. 90 for Children and Rs. 400 for Foreigners.

5. Lakkam Waterfalls: Breathtaking, crystal clear water dropping with gargantuan force is always a beautiful sight to behold. Enjoy this scenic beauty at Lakkam WaterFalls. It is one of the most beautiful places to visit in South India.

It originates at Eravikulam National Park and flows into River Pambar which is one of the easternmost rivers in Kerala. This river then ultimately joins River Cauvery in Tamil Nadu and flows along the road to Munnar to Marayoor. Stop at the waterfalls to witness natural water cascading down the hill while you chomp on snacks from the cafeteria and shop at the eco shop.

Entry Timings: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Entry Fee: Rs. 20 per person.

6. Lakkam Log House: A good way to detox is by surrounding yourself with nature. Staying in the lap of nature is a thrilling and peaceful experience. The chilly, damp air mixed with gusts of fresh air, sounds of different birds and animals accumulate to create a magical experience at Lakkam Log House.

We’ve all grown up reading stories about living in tree houses and have always wished to do so ourselves. Make that dream come true with the added benefit of the highest form of hospitality, complimentary food and solitude of nature and its sweet sounds cracking the silence.

Tariff: Rs. 3000 for two Indians, Rs. 4000 for foreigners and Rs. 1000 for extra people.

7. Trekking Programs: Under Eravikulam National Park’s visitor management program there are various schemes to cater to the adventurous souls. Pull up your socks, get on your travel gear and sign up for some of their most thrilling and exciting trekking programs. Eravikulam National Park management caters to everyone’s desires. There are various trekking programs inside Rajamala itself, including two-day trekking with camping programs along 'Gouldsbury trail' among others.

8. Nature Education Camp: The increasing ignorance regarding the environment is alarming and it has come to the notice of the Kerala Forest Department. The future of this world is in the hands of the youth. It is their duty to be learned enough to tackle the problems of a degrading environment. Hence, the Forest Department has decided to host Nature Education Camps for the younger generation. It is a three-day camp held at Eravikulam National Park itself, accommodating about thirty students at a time. They are monitored by environment experts with a trekking program and field visits. It is an extremely beneficial activity at Eravikulam National Park.

Location of Eravikulam National Park

Eravikulam National Park is located in Munnar, Kerala. The address of Eravikulam National Park is The Wildlife Warden Munnar PO, Kerala 685612. It is about 15kms away from Munnar city center. The first national park of Kerala, it is well known and a popular location to visit.

How to Reach Eravikulam National Park

The best part of Eravikulam National Park is the modes of transport. There are excellent management systems in place which take care of transport facilities within the park. The best modes of transport to Eravikulam National Park are:

● Flight: The nearest airports to Eravikulam National Park are in Trivandrum and Coimbatore. From the airports, you may avail of buses or drive down to Munnar to visit Eravikulam National Park.

● Train: The nearest railway station from Eravikulam National Park is in Aluva which is a busy station receiving ample trains from neighboring states. From the station, you may hail buses or a cab to arrive at Munnar.

● Private Car: One of the best modes of transport to Eravikulam National Park is driving to it. It makes for a fun road trip with your friends and family and creates several exciting memories along the way.

● Cab: To avoid the confusion of getting to Eravikulam National Park, you can simply book a cab from top car rental companies in Munnar and travel to the park in a hassle free manner.

Eravikulam National Park will stop your mode of transport at 5th Mile which is the entrance to the park. From here onwards, you will have to board mini buses provided by the park which will take you into the tourism zone, Rajamala. One kilometer walk from here will lead you to the area where Nilgiri Tahrs live.

Entry Timings and Fee of Eravikulam National Park

The entry timings at Eravikulam National Park are from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Entry fees at Eravikulam National Park for Indian citizens is Rs. 125 per head while for children it is Rs. 95 per head. For foreign nationals the entry fees is Rs. 420 per head. In case you wish to carry your own video camera inside the charges are Rs. 335. The charges for carrying an ordinary camera is Rs. 45.

Eravikulam National Park is closed for visitors from 29th January 2018 to 31st March 2018 due to the calving season of Nilgiri Tahr.

Things to Keep in Mind while at Eravikulam National Park

The sensitivity of the natural community of Eravikulam National Park needs to be preserved and maintained. This is ensured by insinuating some rules and regulations that visitors to Eravikulam National Park are requested to remember and abide by. Since the park is home to endangered species there is a need to promote the rules. These include:

1. Nature is unpredictable and so are the living beings residing in it. It is, thus, important to remember that sighting animals depend solely on coincidence. There is no certainty that you will spot animals but if you’re lucky, flip that camera out and click the moment before it escapes!

2. Outside food and beverages are strictly prohibited inside the park. This may lead to littering and doing so will culminate into a punishable offense. Eravikulam National Park requests its visitors to maintain the sanctity of the national park by averting from indulging in smoking and drinking alcohol within the premises of the park. Enjoy the hygienic and fresh atmosphere of the park without polluting it.

3. It is requested that visitors to Eravikulam National Park be mindful of the environment. Unlike humans, animals are generally quite sensitive to things we might not think twice about, such as loud music, loud talking and in general, noise. Feeding the animals and even carrying your own pets may be hazardous to the animals in Eravikulam National Park and you too.

4. Eravikulam National Park is one of the few plastic-free parks in the country. Plastic items will be discarded if carried with you. Please refrain from possessing any while at the park. Even harmful items such as firearms will not be allowed at Eravikulam National Park. The management organizes special programs for trekking or having a picnic. Unauthorized plans will not be entertained.

Places to visit near Eravikulam National Park

Visiting Eravikulam National Park is nothing short of escaping concrete jungles of our cities into the lap of nature. Tired of the humdrum of city life? Want to get away for a few days to enjoy the silence of nature and breathe some fresh air? Think no more. Eravikulam National Park will give you an experience of a lifetime but the thrill doesn’t just stop at the park. There is a lot to see and do around the park as well. The entire vicinity of Eravikulam National Park is nature’s paradise. These are some of the places you can drop by:

1. Attukal Waterfalls: Witness absolute magic at Attukal Waterfalls. It is about a forty-minute drive from Eravikulam National Park. It provides you with a panoramic view of cascading waters dropping from hilltops in gigantic force. You are bound to lose yourself in the rising mists of Attukal Waterfalls. The best time to visit is the monsoons when this same sight increases in visual appeal. It is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Munnar.

Entry Timings: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, every day.
Entry Fee: NA

2. Marayoor Sandal Reserve: Marayoor is a small town in the district of Idukki in Kerala. It is well-known for its sandalwood forests, the only place in all of Kerala to have them. Marayoor Sandal Reserve is protected by the Forest Department. The forest also has vast acres of sugarcane. This is one of the biggest sandalwood reserves, owing to how rare and expensive it is to keep, achieve and maintain. A visit to Munnar makes it mandatory for you to drop by, take a stroll through the sandalwood forest, and spend solemn, silent moments amidst it all.

Entry Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, every day.
Entry Fee: NA
Visit Duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Preservation and Maintenance of Eravikulam National Park

Nature is very sensitive and she needs to be taken care of with utmost care and effort. Programs, plans, and projects are constantly innovated to ensure the preservation of the few acres of greenery that haven’t yet been wiped off by our advancing world.

Eravikulam National Park houses the remnants of the last of the Shola-Grasslands and this aggravates the need for its protection. There are certain steps that are taken by Eravikulam National Park’s management to increase awareness while maintaining the existence of the park. These steps include:

1. Nature awareness programs: These programs have been instituted to spread the message of nature preservation amongst the masses that are mostly ignorant. These are extended to localities, visitors, park officials among others.

2. Census: The Park is home to species that are close to becoming rare like the Nilgiri Tahr. Hence an annual census is calculated to keep a track of their population. The Census of the largest Shola-Grassland ecosystem is done at the national park every year.

3. Weather and Vegetation Monitoring: There is constant monitoring of weather data at Eravikulam National Park because it is feared that the process of global warming will affect the forest ecosystem badly in the future. To do so, installation of an automated meteorological station in Rajamala, Eravikulam and Poovar has been proposed along with the establishment of certain plots to monitor long term vegetation changes in the forest and grasslands.

4. Health Monitoring: Health monitoring is carried out on the animals of the national park annually and quarterly. This is done by veterinary officers and researchers who track their health through direct sightings and by checking droppings. They also follow up on emergencies.

5. Academic Outreach: Eravikulam National Park conducts nature education camps for school students, college students and interested NGOs every year. There are no institutional courses or training programs for the park staff yet. Certain areas require an emphasis on research and monitoring, which has been strongly advocated through the national park’s future plans. Several research scholars and scientists also work at the park.

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If you’re looking for adventure in a forest then Eravikulam National Park is the best place to go. It's also the perfect place to visit if you're a wildlife photographer as the place is full of rare birds, butterflies, frogs, snakes, leopards, and deer.

Take a jungle safari with your family and don’t forget to click quickly if you are lucky enough to see a Nilgiri Tahr which is an endangered species in the area. For nature lovers, the Shola Forests are a treat to the eyes, and for trekking enthusiasts, the grasslands are a beautiful trail that'll give you some great memories.

To make the most of your Munnar tour, book a Munnar Tour package with us. We at Munnar Tourism, a division of Holidays DNA offer packages at competitive prices which includes a trip to all the famous sightseeing places of Munnar. To know more about our offerings, please fill the Contact Us form.

Location Map for Eravikulam National Park Munnar