A sanctuary for the endangered mountain goat of South India,
the Nilgiri Tahr ( Hemitragus hylocrious), the Eravikulam
National Park stands out for the stark beauty of its rolling
grasslands and sholas, spread over 97 sq km in the Rajamalai
hills.
Anamudi, the highest peak
(2695 m) south of the Himalayas, towers over the sanctuary
in majestic pride. The slopes of the hills abound in all kinds
of rare flora and fauna. The Atlas moth, the largest of its
kind in the world, is a unique inhabitant of the park. Other
rare species of fauna found here are the Nilgiri Langur, the
lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers, etc.
An ideal place for trekking,
facilities are provided here and tourists are allowed to go
on foot up to Anamudi.
A protected area, the sanctuary
is divided into three regions - the core area, the buffer
area and the tourism area. Visitors are allowed only to the
tourism area - Rajamalai - the region lying beyond the road
entry into Eravikulam. Here one can observe the Nilgiri Tahr
at close quarters.
Don't make this your destination
for a monsoon visit because visitors are not allowed here
during this season.
Getting there:
Eravikulam is 15 kms from Munnar.
Nearest railway
stations: Kottayam, about 142 km from Munnar; Ernakulam,
about 130 km from Munnar.
Nearest airports: Madurai (Tamilnadu) about
142 km; Cochin International Airport, about 150 km. |
