Eravikulam National Park

At a distance of 16 Kms from Munnar, Rajamalai is a tiny hill station located inside Eravikulam National Park on Munnar - Udumalpet Road. The Eravikulam National Park was established to protect the Nilgiri Tahr. The park is extended into Tamil Nadu and known as Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Trip to Rajamalai is one of the top things to do as part of Munnar tour packages and among the beautiful places to see Neelkurnji flowers in South India as part of your wildlife tour in India.

This region is famous as the natural habitat of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. Nearly half the world's population of this rare species is found in area. Other faunal species found in the park are elephant Gaur, Giant Squirrel, Leopard, Lion-Tailed Macaque, Tiger, and Sambar.

The national park is spread across an area of 97sq km and is a protected area. The park is divided into 3 regions - the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area. Visitors are allowed only to the tourism area, which is in the Rajamalai region. Tourists can take safari and trekking tours inside the park.

Entry to the park is adjacent to Munnar - Udumalpet main Road. Private vehicles are not allowed into the park and visitors can park the vehicles at the entrance and board forest department minu bus. The bus rides tourists into the sanctuary and stops at the base of the Eravikulam peak from where a 2 km walk will lead to the mountain peak with viewpoint which offers panoramic view of the Anamudi Peak and other peaks of the Western Ghats. Plenty of Nilgiri Tahrs can be spotted on the peak and on trekking path. The safari bus is usually crowded and it's advised to reach there early in the morning (before 7.30 AM). Advance reservation counter is also available where Rs. 50 extra can be paid instead of standing in the long queue.

Flora in Eravikulam National Park
Three major types of plant communities are found in the Park - grasslands, shrublands and forests. The terrain above 2000m is covered primarily by grasslands. However, there are numerous small patches of forests in hollows and gullies in these areas. The deep valleys are extensively forested. Shrublands predominate along the bases of the cliffs and interspersed with rocky slab areas. The antibacterial Eupatorium glandulosum is found here.

Other Attractions
Anamudi (2,695 m) is the highest peak in south India and located within the park area. This is a good place for trekking.

Climate
The climate of this region is greatly influenced by the southwestern monsoon. June, July, and August are the monsoon months and this is the period when the region receives maximum rainfall while April and May are the hottest months. January and February receive little rain and the weather is generally clear during this time of the year. From September to December, the northeast monsoon brings a little rain and this period along with the months of January and February are the best time to visit this park.