4 Best Places in Munnar for Wildlife buffs

Situated amidst majestic mountains enveloped in gentle mists and floating clouds, Munnar is a must-visit destination for all international travelers, offering a plethora of experiences through various Munnar tour packages. The region’s cool yet friendly climate is adorned with vast stretches of untamed nature, harmoniously complemented by the undulating tea plantations that contribute to its stunning landscape. What make Munnar so special in terms of biodiversity is the diverse ecosystems, making it a prime location for wildlife enthusiasts. This area is home to a variety of species, including elephants, the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, elusive tigers, and numerous beautiful exotic birds.

Check here is the list of popular wildlife sanctuaries near Munnar.

Eravikulam National Park

Located just 16 km from Munnar, Eravikulam National Park is one of the popular places to visit in Munnar for wildlife enthusiasts. It is the first of its kind in Kerala, dedicated to the protection of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. Spanning an area of 97 sq. km, this park is home to the largest viable population of Tahr, along with various other species of rare animals, birds, and butterflies. Visiting Eravikulam is among the top activities to engage in as part of Munnar wildlife tour packages, and is one of the stunning locations to witness Neelkurinji flowers in South India. The park becomes a popular attraction when the hill slopes are adorned with a blue carpet, a result of the blooming of Neelakurinji.

                   Also Read: Best Places to visit near Kochi

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Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

About 58 km from Munnar, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected reserve situated in the Marayoor and Kanthalloor panchayats in the Idukki district of Kerala. Spread across 90 sq. km, it is one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala and among the top places to visit near Munnar. Canopied by lush, evergreen, and thorny scrubs, the park is richly populated with a wide array of indigenous flora and fauna which makes it a popular tourist destination. One can spot Indian Elephant, Panther, Gaur, Spotted Deer, Monkey, Sambar, and Grizzled Giant Squirrel here as part of Munnar 3-day tour. Along with the Western Ghats and the Anamalai sub-cluster, the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is under consideration by UNESCO for selection as a World Heritage Site.

                      Also Read: Best National Parks in India

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Carmelgiri Elephant Park

Situated on the way to Mattupatty Dam, Carmelagiri Elephant Park is a private park, and among the must-include places in Munnar honeymoon packages. Located in Kannan Devan Hills, Carmelagiri Elephant Park woos visitors with their enthralling elephant safaris through the zig-zag hilly paths between Munnar Tea Gardens. The park gives trippers various riding times, which range from 15 minutes to 1 hour and even a full-day safari. A maximum of three people can travel at a time on an elephant, and there are around eight elephants in total. While in the Carmelagiri park, one gets to know in person on the daily routines, special exercise walks, bathing rituals, training procedures and specific diets of elephants. One can also feed the elephants and talk to the mahouts about their behavior and learn about their moods as part of the Munnar tour from Kochi. The elephants are trained and well cared for by the mahouts, who help educate tourists about the majestic creatures.

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Mathikettan Shola National Park

About 34 km from Munnar, Mathikettan Shola National Park is a protected reserve situated at Poopara village of Udumbanchola taluk in Kerala. It is one of the protected reserves in Kerala and among the best wildlife sanctuaries near Kochi. The Mathikettan tract was notified as a Reserve Forest by the Travancore Government in 1897 and later declared as a national park in 2003 to protect the wildlife and rich biodiversity of the area. Spread over an area of 12.82 sq. km, the park plays a vital role in safeguarding wildlife in the region and also being a very important elephant corridor in South India. The park is home to rare animals like Tigers, Panthers, Elephants, Giant grizzled squirrels, Flying squirrels, Spotted deer, and Nilgiri Tahr. Besides, the forest department organizes trekking trips for visitors up to 9 km into the dense forest that attracts large numbers of adventure seekers providing amazing views of the region as part of Munnar leisure tour.

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