Eravikulam National Park
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 Kerala 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 Kerala 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.