Eravikulam National Park in Kerala

The Eravikulam National Park is located high in the Western Ghats in Kerala near its border with Tamil Nadu. Blessed with spectacular natural beauty and home to numerous exotic wildlife species, Eravikulam is part of the Western Ghats biosphere under consideration for inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Nilgiri tahr, an endangered species of ‘goat-sheep,’ is endemic to the region and is found in relatively large numbers in the Eravikulam National Park in Kerala. The Eravikulam is also known for the mass flowering of the neelakurunji shrub that takes place in the grasslands of the national park only once every 12 years. Elephants make seasonal visits to the park from surrounding areas such as the Indira Gandhi National Park in nearby Tamil Nadu state.

The Ecosystem of Eravikulam

The ecosystem of the Eravikulam National Park in Kerala is dominated by grassland interspersed by sholas that is a result of the high altitude and regional climate. The landscape is punctuated by rolling hills and numerous streams crisscrossing the park. Accessible from both the Kerala side through Munnar and the Tamil Nadu side through Pollachi, the Eravikulam National Park is also home to the highest mountain in southern India – the Anai Mudi that stands at a height of 8842 ft.