Topslip - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 35 km from Pollachi and 76 km from Coimbatore, 5 km from Parambikulam, Topslip is a protected tiger reserve located in the Annamalai mountain range of the Western Ghats in Tamilnadu. It is one of the must include places in Pollachi Tour Packages.

Situated at an altitude of 240 m, Topslip is the tourist zone and main birding area of the Annamalai Tiger Reserve, which is separated from the Nilgiri Hills by Palghat Gap in the north. It stands majestically with Green Spread Mountains and forest all around. The place got its name during the British era, as lots of its timber slipped down to the plains below. Topslip is blessed with a gentle altitude, a salubrious climate, and a variety of flora and fauna. Its picturesque location and fabulous scenery have made it a popular location for several movie sequences. It is also famous for the elephant camp.

It is the best gateway for a wonderful wildlife experience of the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. The unique teak forests, Bamboo forests, rich exotic species of plants, and wild animals are the major attractions of Topslip. It is also a wonderful destination for bird watching as it is home to 250 species of birds. MT Stuart block is another attraction which is located 3 km from Topslip. It has an ancient forest bungalow along with the grave of Hugo Wood, a British officer with an environmental conscience who emphasized that a sapling must be planted for every tree that is chopped off.

This place also has an elephant camp called Kozhikamuthi, which is said to have the best collection of trained elephants or kumki elephants. One can even see the elephants being fed at specific times. As part of its elephant conservation effort, the Forest Department also celebrates the World Elephant Day in August here and events like drawing, public speaking, and essay writing contests are conducted for tribal students. Topslip is also a national park and a medical plant conservation area apart from its wildlife.

Forest Department organizes 1-hour elephant safaris and jeep rides into the sanctuary. Private vehicles are not allowed for the safaris. The Tourism Department has also identified several trekking routes starting at Top Slip and conducts guided trekking tours. Kolambumalai - 10 km, Ambuli watchtower - 6 km, Kozhikammuthy-12 km, and Karian Shola - 4 km are the some of the trekking routes available here. Topslip can also be visited along with Valparai Tour Packages.

Forest Timings: 7 AM to 4 PM

Safari Timings: 11 AM - 2 PM for Elephant Safari, 7.30 AM to 3.30 PM for Vehicle Safari, 7 AM - 2 PM for Trekking

Entry: Rs. 80 for Person, Rs.50 for Camera, Rs. 200 for Vehicle Safari Per person, Rs. 600 for Elephant Safari, Rs. 200 - 1000 for Trekking

Note: Above charges for Indian nationals. Different charges apply for foreigners. Above entry charges are approximate as of Dec 2020.