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Chinnar Wild Life Sanctuary (60km from Munnar) |
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| Chinnar
Wildlife Sanctuary is a unique thorny scrub
forest with xerophyte species. As one travels
from Munnar to Chinnar, Elephant, Gaur, Spotted
Deer, Panther, Sambar, Hanuman Langur, Rabbit
etc can be seen either side of the forest.
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Eravikulam National Park (15 km from Munnar) |
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| The
97 sq. kms park is home to the Nilgiri Tahr.
The Anamudi peak (2695 m) is located in the
Southern region of the park. In the year 1975
this park was declared as a sanctuary. The park
is breathtakingly beautiful and is easily comparable
to the best mountain ranges found anywhere in
the world. |
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Trekking
facilities are available here. Tourists
are allowed to go on foot. This is also a place for
adventure tourism.
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Rajamala
(15 km from Munnar) |
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| Rajamala
: 2695 m above sea level. Half the world's population
of the rare mountain goat Niligiri
tahr or Ibex
which is fast becoming extinct, is now other
than Israel is found here. The
population of Nilgiri Tahrs in Rajamala is estimated
to be over 1300. |
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Silent Valley National
Park |
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| The
Silent Valley contains India’s last substantial
stretch of tropical evergreen rain forests and
it is perhaps the only vestige of a near virgin
forest in the whole of the Western Ghats. Elephants,
tigers, wild dog, flying squirrel and lion-tailed
macaque are found here. From Mukkali one has
to cover at least 24 km on foot to reach the
source of river |
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Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary |
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| Located
within the confines of the Western Ghats in
the southern Indian state of Kerala, Periyar
National Park and Tiger Reserve is one of the
most captivating wildlife parks in the world.
In 1895, the British undertook water resource
management plans for the area and started work
on a dam and an artificial lake under the auspices
of Col. J. Pennycuick. The picturesque lake
in the heart of the sanctuary was originally
26 sq km but now spans an area of 55 sq km.
This perennial source of water, which initially
led to the submersion of large tracts of forestland,
slowly attracted wild animals. It eventually
resulted in the adjoining forests being granted
protection by the Maharaja of Travancore. Post-1975
Periyar finds itself in the enviable position
of being a national park as well as a protected
tiger reserve. |
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Major
Wildlife Attractions in Periyar National Park
Apart from Elephants, the other animals to be seen
in the Periyar sanctuary are Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar,
Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Dole or Indian Wild Dog
and very rarely, a Tiger. There are, now, an estimated
40 tigers here. Four species of primates are found
at Periyar - the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri
Langur, Common Langur And Bonnet Macaque. Periyar
also happens to be the habitat of the elusive Nilgiri
Tahr, which is rarely to be seen.The birdlife comprises
of Darters, Cormorants, Kingfishers, the great Malabar
Hornbill and racket-tailed Drongoes. The reptilian
population boasts Of Monitor Lizards that can be spotted
basking in the sun, on the rocks along the lakeshore.
Visitors who trek into the Periyar national park often
see a Python and sometimes even a King Cobra. In the
lap of the mountains, the Periyar wildlife sanctuary's
environ is like a canvas of many shades. The fresh
air of the moist deciduous forest gives one a chance
to experience the peace and serenity and long to return
for more. Periyar (also known as Thekkady) is a park
where one can witness playful pachyderms, whose population
is currently around 800. The population of tigers
is also increasing appreciably. The terrain ranges
from hilly to flat grassland areas at the edges of
the lakes. The vegetation is of moist deciduous type.
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