Location – palakkad district, Kerala
Nearest access– Pollachi
Major wildlife found – tiger, elephant, leopard, gaur, spotted dear
Coverage area– 643.66 Sq. Km
Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary is one of the best preserve wildlife sanctuaries of the world. This sanctuary lies between sungam range of hills between the Nelliampathy hills and Anaimalai hills. This sanctuary is situated in the Palakkad district of the state of the Kerala. This sanctuary has under consideration for status of world heritage site by UNESCO. This sanctuary is declared as tiger reserve in the year of 2009. This tiger reserve is spread over more than 643 sq. km area which includes 252 sq km buffer area and 390 sq km core area. This is one of the best attractive places in the Western Ghats.
Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary is a well maintained ecological portion and one of the best biodiversity spot which supports diverse habitat endemism and types. This sanctuary is rich in landscape beauty, abundance of wildlife and biological richness. This sanctuary is well protected on all sides by sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. This is endowed with a peninsular fauna and flora which are excellently conserved because of total protection as well as minimum human interferences. It has largest population of wildlife in entire Western Ghats region. It is home for various races of indigenous community who are vital part of harmonious ecosystem.
Ample water supply makes it an adobe for wildlife. Ride of this sanctuary offers tourists treasured memories of wildlife sightings. The sanctuary has healthy population of flora. Flora of this place includes west coast tropical type evergreen forest, dry decidious forest, moist decidious forest, teak plantation, vayals and shoal forest. It has numerous types of trees like Sandalwood, Rosewood and Neem. Tourists can see oldest teak tree of 450 years of the age here. This tiger reserve has more than 1048 species of flowering plants. Tourists can see here more than 67 varieties of the orchids. This place is home of numerous and rare medicinal herbs. These medicinal herbs are very well preserved here.
Wildlife in Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary
Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary has richest diversity of mammals in entire Western Ghats which includes 36 species of animals, 61 species of reptiles, 47 species of fishes, 16 species of amphigians and 268 species of birds. Tourists can see here animals like Bengal tigers, elephants, lion tailed macaques, Indian leopard, sambar, Niligiri tahr, gaur, Niligir langurs, Travancore flying squirrel, barking deer and sloth bears. Common reptiles found here are king cobras, pythons, Indian day gecko, flying lizard, Travancore tortoise and Kerala sheildtail. Tourists can also see other important reptiles like vine snake, rat snake, ugger crocodile, krait and green keel back.
This sanctuary is home to 138 rarest species of birds like black woodpecker, darter, black eagle, black capped kingfisher, and little cormorant and great Indian hornbill. Tourists can spot here more than 128 different species of butterflies out of which 34 species are rarest. The sanctuary is healthy population of amphibians like bufo parietalis, verrucose frog, large wrinkled frog, rana keralensis, rana leptodactyla, bronzed frog, south Indian frog and reddish burrowing frog.
Major attractions in Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary
Parambikulam dam offers breathtaking view of the surrounding. Tourists can take cruise ride to see hidden treasure of surrounding forests. Tourists can spot crocodiles, wild boars and otters while cruise ride.
Thoonakkadavu Lake is surrounded by lush green forest. Tourists can spot crocodiles in the crystal clear water of the Lake. Tourists can enjoy beauty of Lake by boat ride.
The world’s largest teak tree
Tourists can pay visit to Kanniamra, the world’s largest teak tree. The tree is more than 400 years old and has girth of 6.48 m as well as height of 48.75 m.
Watch towers To enjoy birds view with lush greenery tourists can climb up the Chungam and Annaipadi watchtowers.
Trekking
Trekking in the sanctuary is an enormously enjoyable affair. While trekking tourists, can acquainted with animals like elephant gangs, gaur herds, Niligiri Langur, varities of snakes, birds, Malabar squirrels and many more.
Best time to visit
Parambikulam has typical Indian climatic conditions. It has heavy rainfall in the season of monsoon. Summers are quite hot and humid here and get little rainfall also. Winter is warm and clam. Best time to visit the sanctuary is from October to march because of excellent climate.
How to Reach:
By road –the sanctuary is well connected with town of Thiruvannthapuram and Palakkad with regular bus services. These towns are well connected with daily bus services with major cities of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
By rail – to reach the sanctuary by train, the nearest railway station is Pollachi at a distance of 60 kilometers. Pollachi is well connected by daily trains with major cities of the nation.
By air – Coimbatore is the nearest airport to reach the sanctuary by flights at a distance of 100 kilometers and well connected by daily flights with major cities.