Kerala is known for its lush greenery, backwaters, and diverse ecosystems. Kerala has 6 designated national parks.
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1. Eravikulam National Park
- Eravikulam National Park is located in the Devikulam Taluk of Idukki district of Kerala, India.
- It is particularly famous for Nilgiri Tahr.
- Another specialty of park is the “Neelakurinji” flower that blooms once every 12 years.
- In 1975, the region was declared a wildlife sanctuary primarily to protect the endangered Nilgiri Tahr.
- In 1978, the Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary was upgraded to national park status, becoming Eravikulam National Park. The primary objective was to provide enhanced protection to the Nilgiri Tahr and other wildlife species within the area.
- Area: Park covers an area of approximately 97 square kilometers (37 square miles).
- Hills: Park is located in the Rajamalai hills of the Western Ghats and the highest peak in the park is Anamudi.
- Rajamalai Hills
- Anamudi Peak
- River: The park includes catchment areas for east flowing rivers (tributaries of River Pambar) and west flowing rivers (tributaries of River Periyar and Chalakkudy).
- Waterfalls: Some of the notable waterfalls within or in close proximity to the park are:
- Lakkom Waterfalls
- Nyayamakad Waterfalls
- Attukad Waterfalls
- Chinnar Waterfalls
- Flora: Shola Forests, Grasslands, Orchids etc.
- Fauna: Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Langur, Tiger, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon, Nilgiri Pipit, Nilgiri Keelback Snake, Malabar Pit Viper etc.
- Half the world population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr lives in the park.
2. Periyar National Park
- Periyar National Park is located in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta in Kerala, India.
- It is famous for its significant population of Indian elephants.
- In 1899, the areas surrounding Periyar Lake had been designated as forest reserves and given the name Periyar Lake Reserve.
- In 1934, the Maharaja of Travancore granted protection to an area of approximately 777 square kilometers (300 square miles), which later became the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
- In 1978, the sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve under the Project Tiger initiative.
- In 1982, the Government of India declared the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary as Periyar National Park.
- In1992, the Project Elephant was launched with Periyar National Park serving as the launch pad.
- Area: The park covers an area of 305 km2 (118 sq mi).
- Hills: This park is situated in the Cardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills of the Western Ghats.
- Cardamom Hills
- Pandalam Hills
- River: The park is bisected by two major rivers:
- Periyar River
- Pamba River
- Lake: Periyar lake situated wuithin the park, which is one of the unique features of the park. It was formed as a result of the Mullaperiyar Dam constructed across the Periyar River.
- Periyar Lake
- Flora: Evergreen Forests ( teak, rosewood, ebony, jackfruit, and many species of fig trees), Moist Deciduous Forests (teak, sal, sandalwood, and silver oak), Grasslands etc.
- Fauna: Bengal Tigers, Asian Elephant, Gaur, Sambar, Travancore Flying Squirrel, Dhole, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Malabar Pit Viper, Striped Coral Snake, Malabar Gliding Frog etc.
3. Silent Valley National Park
- Silent Valley National Park is located in the Palakkad and Malappuram districts of the state of Kerala, India.
- The park is situated in the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats.
- The park is particularly known for its extensive population of orchids.
- In 1914, the forest area of the Silent Valley was notified as reserved forest.
- In 1984, Silent Valley was declared a national park.
- In1986, the Silent Valley National Park was included in the core area of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
- Area: Park covers an area of approximately 89 square kilometers (34 square miles).
- River: Kunthipuzha River flows through the park.
- Kunthipuzha River
- Tribe: Park is home to indigenous tribal communities who have inhabited the region for centuries.
- Kurumba
- Muduga
- Irula
- Kattu Naiken
- Flora: West-coast Tropical Evergreen Forest (ironwood, cullenia and Vateria white dammar), Southern Subtropical Broadleaved Hill Forest (Nilgiri magnolia, rose apple, and crepe myrtle), Southern Montane Wet Temperate Forest (Rhododendron arboreum , Elaeocarpus recurvatus, and Quercus spp. (oak)), Grassland, Orchids, Epiphytes etc.
- Fauna: Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Panther, Sloth Bear, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Nilgiri Flycatcher,Nilgiri Pipit,King Cobra,Shield Tail Snake etc.
4. Mathikettan Shola National Park
- Mathikettan Shola National Park is located in the Idukki district of Kerala, India.
- It is situated between Eravikulam National Park and Pampadam Shola National Park.
- The park is known for its pristine shola forests, which are unique montane evergreen forests found in the Western Ghats.
- In 1897, this area was notified as a Reserve Forest by the Travancore Government.
- In 2003, Mathikettan Shola National Park was established. It was created with the aim of conserving the unique shola forests.
- Area: Park covers an area of approximately 12.82 square kilometers (4.95 square miles).
- Hills: The park is part of Cardamom Hills.
- Cardamom Hills
- River: Three streams, which are the tributaries to the Panniyar river originate from park hill ranges:
- Uchilikuthipuzha
- Mathikettanpuzha
- Njandar
- Flora: Shola Trees, West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forests (Dipterocarpus indicus , Hopea parviflora,, Cullenia exarillata, Calophyllum apetalum, Mesua ferrea), West Coast Semi-Evergreen Forests (Hairy Artocarpus, Crape Myrtle, Palaquium, Java Plum, Malabar Tamarind), South Indian Moist Deciduous Forests (Arjuna, Lanceleaf Crape Myrtle, Sal Tree, Teak, Broadleaf Axlewood), Grasslands, Ferns etc.
- Fauna: Nilgiri Langur, Leopard, Nilgiri Tahr, Sambar, Gaur, Asian Elephant, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Malabar Pit Viper, Malabar Gliding Frog, Travancore Tortoise, Cochin Cane Turtle etc.
5. Anamudi Shola National Park
- Anamudi Shola National Park is located in the Idukki district of the Indian state of Kerala.
- It is situated in the Western Ghats mountain range.
- The park is surrounded by Mathikettan Shola National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Kurinjimala Wildlife Sanctuary.
- The park is known for its unique shola-grassland ecosystem.
- In 2003, Anamudi Shola National Park was established.
- Area: Park covers an area of approximately 42.68 square kilometers (16.47 square miles).
- Flora: Tropical Evergreen Forests, Wet Montane Forests, Moist Deciduous Forests, Shola Forests, Grasslands, Scrubland etc.
- Fauna: Lion-tailed Macaques, Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Marten, Gaur, Nilgiri Langur, Elephant, Sambar, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Malabar Pit Viper, Indian Rock Python, Indian Monitor Lizard etc.
6. Pambadum Shola National Park
- Pambadum Shola National Park is located in the Idukki district of the state of Kerala in southern India.
- It is known for its unique shola-grassland ecosystem.
- In 1897, Pambadum Shola was declared as Reserve woodland by the Travancore Government to protect its unique shola-grassland ecosystem.
- In 2003, Pambadum Shola was upgraded to the status of a national park.
- Area: Park covers an area of approximately 11.753 Sq. Km (4.534 square miles).
- Hills: The national park is a part of the Palani Hills.
- Palani Hills
- River: Tbutaries of Pambar River flows through the park.
- Tribe: Park is home to various indigenous communities:
- Muthuvan Tribe
- Hill Pulaya Tribe
- Flora: Shola Forests, Grasslands etc.
- Fauna: Nilgiri Marten, Lion tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Indian Wild Dogs, Elephants, Gaur, Nilgiri Wood-pigeon, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Malabar Pit Viper, Nilgiri Keelback etc.