Eravikulam National Park

Eravikulam National Park was managed as a Game Reserve by the Kannan Devan Hill Produce Company till 1971. High Range Game Preservation Association, which was an independent non - government organization was the main force responsible for the management and protection of the park. The terrain of the park was the favorite of flourishing flora and fauna and hence attracted many hunters, naturalists, and scientists towards itself. One such explorer was Colonel Douglas Hamilton, and modern facilities were installed here with the establishment of North Travancore Plantation and Agricultural Society in 1879. J.D. Munro recognized the possibilities of raising plantations in these ranges in the year 1877 and acquired about 581.12 square kilometers of land on concession from Poonjat Raja, a local king. This land was later distributed among the society members who then cultivated crops such as coffee and cinchona. However, the land was found most suitable for the plantation of tea and eucalyptus.

Apart from being a center of commercial cultivation, Eravikulam was of special interest to English game hunters as well. The popular game included Nilgiri Tahr, Sambar Deer, Barking Deer, Gaur, Wild Boar, Leopard, and Tiger. The implementation of the Kannan Devan Hills (Resumption of Lands) Act 1971 was carried out as a result of which all lands that were not under cultivation by the company were reverted to the Government of Kerala, which the government intended to distribute for agricultural purposes. The land area of Eravikulam was to be designated for cattle farming, but after an intervention by a group of planters, bureaucrats, naturalists, and scientists, the Government of Kerala declared the area as 'Eravikulam-Rajamalai' Wildlife Sanctuary in 1975.

September to November and from April to June is the best season to visit Eravikulam National Park.

A number of camps, resorts and nature retreats are available for tourists and serve as great accommodation options as well. Some of them include Ecotones Camps, Camp Noel, Ela Ecoland Nature Retreat, Nature Zone Resort, Rock Resort and Deep Woods Resort, all of which have excellent facilities that include an amazing view of Evarikulum, delicious food and amicable hospitality. There are a number of other camps and hotels available as well, in case these do not fit the bill for you.

This national park is almost 15 km from Munnar. The nearest railway station from Eravikulam National park is Kottayam which is at a distance of 142 km and Ernakulam which is at a distance of 130 km. The nearest airport is Madurai in Tamilnadu, at a distance of 142 km and Cochin International Airport which is about 150 km far. You can hire a taxi from the airport or the railway station.

The Eravikulam National park is famous for housing the endangered mountain goat of South India, the Nilgiri Tahr. It stands out for the ravishing beauty of its rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97 sq km in the Kannan Devan hills. Anamudi, which is the highest peak south of Himalayas at a height of 2695m, stands majestically in the central area of the national park. The slopes of the hills are home to many kinds of rare plants and trees some of which are epiphytic orchids and beautiful wild balsams. The important fauna here is the Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Langur, leopard, tiger, Indian bison, etc. The next bloom of Neelakurinji Flowers that bloom ever 12 years will be in 2030.