Munnar Sightseeing - Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated a mere 16 kms from Munnar, the Eravikulam-Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Kerala’s finest wildlife reserves in India. The 97 sq km park lies along the high ranges of the western coast in the Munnar Forest Division of Idukki district and straddles the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the north where it extends as the Annamalai National Park. The area of Rajamalai was declared a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1936 and Eravikulam was upgraded to the status of a national park only in 1978.

The mountains covered with rolling grasslands and high-level sholas is spectacular sight. 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 Rajamala region. Trekking facilities are available here.

The only motor able road inside the park passes through the tourism zone. All other movements inside the Park are on foot along trails and footpaths. As you explore the park, you will see the beautiful Nilgiri Ibex (Tahr) staring soulfully at you from atop a rock. The Rajamala is the natural habitat of this rare mountain goat and half the world population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragas hylocres) lives here. This park was established to protect the endangered Tahr. Another unique inhabitant of the park is the Atlas moth, the largest of its kind in the world.

Besides these, you will find a number of exotic birds and animals such as the elephant, leopard, tiger, malabar civet, sambar, barking deer, nilgai, langur, python etc.  Considering the ecological, floral, geo-morphological and zoological significance, it was declared as a National park in 1978. 

Traveling towards the south of the park will bring you to the towering Anamudi (2694 m), the highest peak, south of the Himalayas.  A unique species of flower, Neelakurinji, that blooms once in 12 years grows profusely on these grasslands. This blue spangled phenomenon attracts plenty of visitors to the grasslands. A visit to the park is a must for a true wildlife enthusiast or nature lover.