National Parks in Kerala is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of wildlife and biodiversity of the Western Ghats. National Geographic"s Traveller Magazine labelled Kerala as one of the "10 Paradises of the World" in the year 2012. Kerala also has a number of National Parks. Kerala is home to India"s largest tiger reserve. Wayanad, part of the Nilgiris Biosphere, is a plethora of scenic beauty and varied wildlife. The Idukki region is a great tribute to the natural diversity of India.
Some of the famous National Parks of Kerala are described below:
Periyar National Park
Periyar National Park is famous for the Periyar Tiger Reserve. It is also known for the elephant reserve. This park is located in the Western Ghats, immersed in luxuriant greenery. It is composed of Savannah grasslands and is reachable all the year round. The place is also known as Thekkady. The protected area is widespread along the area of 925 square kilometres.
Eravikulam National Park
Eravikulam National Park is located along the Western Ghats in Idukki district. It has the distinction of being the first national park of Kerala and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is spread over an area of about 97 square kilometres. About 26 species of mammals, 132 species of birds, 19 species of amphibians and endemic butterflies receive shelter in this national park. Grasslands, shrub lands and forests are the important floral communities of this park.
Silent Valley National Park
Silent Valley National Park is located in the Nilgiri Hills, within the Palakkad District. It has a core zone of 236.74 square kilometers, making it the second largest national park in Kerala. Birds, mammals, insects comprise the fauna of this National Park. About 1000 species of flowering plants, 108 species of orchids, 100 ferns and fern allies, 200 liverworts, 75 lichens and about 200 algae also receive protection in Silent Valley.
Anamudi Shola National Park
Anamudi Shola National Park is located along the Western Ghats in Idukki district. It is spread over an area of about 7.5 square kilometers, which receives very high rainfall. On November 21, 2003 draft notification of this new park was released. Anamudi Shola is useful as a wildlife habitat connector, being surrounded by various other parks.
Mathikettan Shola National Park
Mathikettan Shola National Park is situated in Poopara village of Udumbanchola taluk in Idukki district. It occupies an area of about 12.82 square kilometers. It was established on 21st November, 2003. The National Park is a biodiversity hotspot with its rich treasure of medicinal herbs as well.
Pampadum Shola National Park
Pampadum Shola National Park is situated in Devikulam taluk, Idukki district. It was established in the year 2003. Occupying an area of about 1.32 (0.51 sq mi), Pampadum Shola is regarded as the smallest national park in Kerala. It provides shelter to a moderate amount of montane evergreen shola forest, medicinal plants, endangered and small carnivores, etc. The Park comes under the Anamalai sub-cluster of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Karimpuzha National Park
Karimpuzha National Park is situated in Nilgiri Hills, Palakkad and Nilgiris districts. In 2006, Karimpuza was listed as a proposed Wildlife Sanctuary by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, India. It is also an excellent location for birdwatchers as the park is home to over 292 species of birds. The park remains one of the last uninterrupted territories of south Western Ghats Montane rainforests and tropical moist evergreen forests in the country.
