Annamalai / Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary

Wildlife

Photo Credit: Flickr

Distance (From Coimbatore): 108 Kms

Trip Duration (Including Travel): Full Day

Transportation Options: Bus / Cab

Travel Tips: 1. The sanctuary is closed from Feb 15th to Apr 15th.
2. The permits and accommodation bookings have to be done at Wildlife Warden office at Pollachi (ph: 04259-2225356, 9AM to 5 PM).
3. Elephant safaris are available twice a day at 6:30 AM and 3 PM (2 Hours - Rs. 100 per head), cancelled during monsoon.
4. Bus rides within the part at 6:15 AM, 11:30 AM and 3:15 PM (2-3 hours - Rs. 25 per head).

At a distance of 108 Kms from Coimbatore, 67 Kms from Pollachi & 600 Kms from Chennai, Annamalai (or Indira Gandhi) Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at an altitude of 1,400 meters in the Western Ghats.

Spread across 958 Sq. Kms, it is bordered with Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Eravikulam National Park and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. This park is home for varieties of fauna like elephant, gaur, tiger, panther, sloth-bear, deer, wild bear, wild dog, porcupine, flying squirrel, jackal, pangolin, civet cat and birds like rocket-tailed drongo, red-whiskered bulbul, black headed oriole, etc.

This WLS is famous with several scenic waterfalls, grass hills, tea estates & reservoirs. The best gateway for the Sanctuary is Top Slip (70 Kms from Coimbatore & 30 Kms from Pollachi). Other gateways are Amaravathi (90 Kms from Coimbatore & 50 Kms from Pollachi), Sethumadai (5 Kms before Top Slip) and Valparai (92 Kms from Coimbatore & 52 Kms from Pollachi). The Gateways have limited stay options