National Parks in Kerala

Kerala has 6 designated national parks.

Table of Contents

Anamudi Shola National Park

Location: Idukki District, Kerala; Western Ghats; surrounded by Mathikettan Shola National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kurinjimala Wildlife Sanctuary.
National Park: Established in 2003.
Area: ~42.68 sq.km (16.47 sq miles).
Ecosystem: Known for its unique Shola–grassland mosaic.
Plants: Shola forests, Tropical evergreen forests, wet montane forests.
Animals: Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri marten, Nilgiri langur.

Location: Devikulam Taluk, Idukki District, Kerala; Western Ghats.
Famous For: Nilgiri tahr; Neelakurinji flower (blooms once every 12 years).
Wildlife Sanctuary: Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1975.
National Park: Upgraded to Eravikulam National Park in 1978.
Area: ~97 sq.km (37 sq miles).
Hills & Peak: Located in the Rajamalai Hills; Anamudi Peak (highest peak in South India).
Rivers: Catchment of east-flowing rivers (tributaries of River Pambar) and west-flowing rivers (tributaries of River Periyar and Chalakkudy).
Waterfalls: Lakkom Waterfalls, Nyayamakad Waterfalls, Attukad Waterfalls, Chinnar Waterfalls.
Plants: Shola forests, orchids.
Animals: Nilgiri tahr, sloth bear, Nilgiri langur, Tiger, Nilgiri wood pigeon.
Conservation Note: Nearly half of the global population of endangered Nilgiri tahr is found here.

Location: Idukki District, Kerala; situated between Eravikulam National Park and Pambadum Shola National Park in the Western Ghats.
Known For: Pristine shola forests (montane evergreen forests of the Western Ghats).
Reserve Forest: Notified as a Reserve Forest in 1897 by the Travancore Government.
National Park: Declared as Mathikettan Shola National Park in 2003 for conservation of shola forests.
Area: ~12.82 sq.km (4.95 sq miles).
Hills: Part of the Cardamom Hills.
Rivers & Streams: Tributaries of the Panniyar River: — Uchilikuthipuzha, Mathikettanpuzha, Njandar.
Plants: Shola trees, West Coast tropical evergreen forests, West Coast semi-evergreen forests, South Indian moist deciduous forests, ferns.
Animals: Nilgiri langur, leopard, Nilgiri tahr, sambar, gaur, Asian elephant, Malabar gliding frog, Travancore tortoise, Cochin cane turtle.

Location: Idukki District, Kerala, India; part of the Western Ghats.
Known For: Unique shola–grassland ecosystem.
Reserve Woodland: Declared as Reserve Woodland in 1897 by the Travancore Government for protection of the shola–grassland ecosystem.
National Park: Upgraded to Pambadum Shola National Park in 2003.
Area: ~11.753 sq.km (4.534 sq miles).
Hills: Part of the Palani Hills.
River: Tributaries of the Pambar River flow through the park.
Tribes: Indigenous communities include the Muthuvan Tribe and Hill Pulaya Tribe.
Plants: Shola forests.
Animals: Nilgiri marten, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, dhole, elephant.

Location: Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts, Kerala, India.
Known For: One of India’s most important habitats for Indian elephants.
Forest Reserve: Areas around Periyar Lake were designated as forest reserves in 1899 and named the Periyar Lake Reserve.
Wildlife Sanctuary: In 1934, the Maharaja of Travancore granted protection to about 777 sq km, which later became the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Tiger Reserve: Declared a tiger reserve in 1978 under Project Tiger.
National Park: Declared Periyar National Park by the Government of India in 1982.
Project Elephant: In 1992, Project Elephant was launched with Periyar National Park serving as the launch pad.
Area: Covers approximately 305 sq km (118 sq miles).
Hills: Located in the Cardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills of the Western Ghats.
Rivers: The park is bisected by two major rivers — Periyar River, Pamba River.
Lake: Periyar Lake lies within the park and was formed due to the construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River.
Plants: Teak, rosewood, ebony, jackfruit, fig trees, sal, sandalwood, silver oak.
Animals: Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, gaur, sambar, dhole, sloth bear, Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur.

Location: Palakkad and Malappuram districts of Kerala, India; in the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats.
Specialty: Known for its extensive population of orchids.
Reserved Forest: Notified as a reserved forest in 1914.
National Park: Declared a national park in 1984.
Biosphere Reserve: Included in the core area of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986.
Area: 89 square kilometers (34 square miles).
River: Kunthipuzha River flows through the park.
Tribe: Kurumba, Muduga, Irula, Kattu Naiken.
Plants: West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forests, Southern Subtropical Broadleaved Hill Forests, Southern Montane Wet Temperate Forests, Orchids.
Animals: Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Panther, Sloth Bear, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon.