Eravikulam
National Park is situated in the Idukki district of Kerala. Located in the
Devikulam taluk, Eravikulam National Park was created as a wildlife
sanctuary in 1975. Home to a significant population of endangered Nilgiri
Tahr, a mountain goat found in South India, Eravikulam was declared a
National Park in 1978. Spread over an area of 97 sq Km, Eravikulam National
Park is located 15 km north of the hill station of Munnar. You can see the
attractions of Eravikulam National Park on a Kerala Backwater tour. The
landscape of Eravikulam National Park consists of undulating hills and
grassy knolls. The natural forests in this area are known as Shola and
Eravikulam National Park has several characteristic patches of Shola, where
the native flora and fauna can be observed. The green hills and rolling
slopes are a beautiful sight and have been compared to the Alpine meadows of
Switzerland. Many species of rare plants including the Neelkurinji, which
gives the Nilgiri Hills its blue color, can be seen in the forests of
Eravikulam.
Among the hills in Eravikulam National Park is Anaimudi the tallest peak in
South India, which rises to a height of 2694 m. Its name means the tuft of
an elephant and refers to the hairy top of an elephant's head. The climate
in Eravikulam national park is pleasant year round. It rains very heavily
during the monsoon and inters can be frosty but days are mild and excellent
for touring the sanctuary and observing animals in their natural state.
Some of the animals you can see on tours of Eravikulam National Park with
Kerala Backwater are, over a thousand Nilgiri Tahr, tigers, leopards, jungle
cats, civet cats, wild boar, sloth bear, Nilgiri Langur, squirrels, mongoose
and snakes and reptiles. Many species of butterflies and moths are also
seen. The Atlas Moth, one of the world's largest moths is also found in
Eravikulam National Park.
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