|
The Silent Valley National Park stretches across an area of 89.52 square kms across the Kundali Hills in the Western Ghats in Kerala. It’s an undisturbed tropical, evergreen, rain forest that houses many rare plants and herbs. The Park is also home to a wide variety of butterflies.
Elephants, lion-tailed macaques and tigers are some of the wildlife that can be found in this Park. It’s one of the last unspoiled regions existing in India. The region is a beauteous interplay of high altitude peaks, small streams and rivers, and dense greenery. This park is bliss on earth…no wonder, it’s call the silent valley…serene, calm and almost surreal. The valley’s are mostly covered with moist broadleaf forests, while the sholas occupy the higher altitudes. The biodiversity is rich and vibrant here as this area is still untouched by man and biologists continue to discover new species of plants here.
You must get permission from the Kerala Forest Department to enter the valley. A short one-day trip includes 2-3 km trek to the hanging bridge at the Kunti river from Mukkali (nearest point). Tourists are not allowed to stay in the alley. Entry into the valley is allowed only from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. You will not be allowed to proceed without a guide, who is assigned by the Mukkali Forest Dept Office. Nominal fees are collected. Jeeps for hire are available from Mukkali or Mannarkkad.
History of Silent Valley National Park:
Silent Valley is Sairandhrivanam (the forest in the valley) in the local language. The region was declared a reserved land under the Forest Act in 1888 and later notified as a Reserved Forest by the Government of Madras in 1914. In the 1970’s, Kerala State Electricity Board decided to construct a Hydel Power Project, but the valley was declared a National Park in 1980 and hence, the power project was dropped. This led to a lot of debates and controversies. But the region survived through it all, unharmed and undisturbed. In 1986, the Silent Valley was declared the core area in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Special attractions in and around Silent Valley National Park:
- Fauna: There is a rich diversity of wildlife in the region and they include the lion-tailed macaque, elephant, leopard, tiger, nilgiri tahr, malabar giant squirrel, several species of deer, gaur and a large population of birds like hornbills, malabar whistling thrush etc. Rare species of birds and animals are found here. Over 128 species of butterflies and 400 species of moths live here. At least 500 species of earthworms and leeches have also been identified in the park.
- Flora: 1000 species of flowering plants, several species of orchids, ferns, lichens and algae are found here. Tropical and sub-tropical trees are found in abundance. The scent of fresh blooms and greenery is just mesmerizing to the senses.
Best Time to Visit Silent Valley National Park:
September to March
Location of Silent Valley National Park:
State: Kerala
District: Palakkad
Distance from Palakkad – 75 km; Coimbatore – 55 km
How to reach Silent Valley National Park:
Nearest airport: Coimbatore Airport – 55 km
Nearest railway stations: Palakkad Railway Station – 75 km
Directions by road from nearby cities: Buses from Palakkad and Coimbatore
Contact
The Wildlife Warden,
Silent Valley National Park,
Mannarkkad,
Palakkad dist, Kerala. PIN – 678582.
Phone: 04924-222056
Climatic Conditions:
Temperatures average 23 °C in April and May. It’s coolest in January and February when the mean temperature is 18°C. The average rainfall in the region varies between 2800 and 3400 mm.
Clothing:
Cottons around the year, rainwear during monsoons
Tourist places near Silent Valley National Park:
Parambikulam, Choolanur Peacock Sanctuary, Attappadi or Mountain Valley
This article was contributed by Rupa
If you have any photos / travelogues of Silent Valley National Park, we would be happy to upload them on this page with due credits given to you as photographer/author. Contact Us
|
