Eravikulam National Park (Rajamalai) Information | Photos | Location

Eravikulam National Park located at an altitude of 2698 m above sea level is the natural abode for wild mountain goat namely “Niligiri Tahr” which is fast becoming extinct. Eravikulam National Park, in the Western Ghats near Munnar has been labelled as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The area has always been populated by a wide range of fauna and flora and in the earlier times, it had served as a Game Preserve, maintained by the Kannan Devan Hills Produce Company. Later for the protection of various endangered and endemic species, it was denoted with the status of a Wildlife sanctuary in 1975 and then with the status of a National Park in 1978.

The majority of the National Park is positioned on a plateau, where an interplay can be seen between Shrubs, Shola forests, and Grasslands. It serves as a catchment area for the east and west flowing rivers like the Pambar, Periyar, and Chalakuddy. The rugged mountain terrain of Eravikulam National Park provides a natural habitat to these endangered mountain goats. According to recent survey, Eravikulam National Park now has less than 1000 goats of this kind. It has twenty six species of mammals such as Jackal, Leopard, Wild dog and Sambar Deer; 132 species of birds ,19 of amphibians and exotic butterflies. 

Visitors are only allowed to venture through the Rajamalai, which is the parks tourism venue. The park shuts down during the Nilgiri Tahr Mating Season. Only Forest Department min-buses go inside the park and visitors have to buy a nominally priced ticket to get into it. Whole ride qould take 1-2 hours depending upon the amount of time you spend inside the park. There is plenty of parking space available near the main gate.

Though the most coveted species of the park are the Nilgiri Tahr and the Neelakurinji which blooms once in every 12 years, there are other attractions too such as the Ruddy Mongoose, Orange flycatcher and so on.

While visiting one can indulge in activities like trekking the Kurinji trail, visiting the Anamudi Peak or admiring the Lakkom waterfalls.