Wildlife Sanctuaries in Kerala: From the stunning beaches to the gorgeous backwaters and from the beautiful coral reefs to the countless water bodies, Kerala offers a vividness and a great variety in its topography that no other Indian state offers.
For people who feel they are very close to mother nature, Kerala is the perfect place to visit them. Coming closer to nature, people who love watching wild animals in a National Park, Kerala is a perfect paradise for them. And that’s because there are numerous National Parks and sanctuaries inside the boundary of Kerala. Let’s discover the tops of them:
1 Periyar National Park
Located in the Western Ghats, the region is best known by the name of Thekkady and is covered with lush greenery all around. However, a low number of tourists come to flock to it. If you are a lucky one, you can surely spot the Jungle King – Tiger. But if you are not, you will have to compromise watching the herd of elephants. Macaques, lazy reptiles, and peeking deer are the animals that can be caught in sight usually.
Best time to visit: November to April
2 Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Very close to Kochi, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a must-visit place to enjoy an amazing variety of migrant species of birds. Peacefully settled on the bank of Vembanad Lake in the backwaters of Kerala, this beautiful bird sanctuary is home to the largest number of migratory birds in our country. You may easily spot larks, cuckoo, owls, herons, the Siberian crane, and flycatcher.
Best time to visit: June to August is considered the best time. However, November to February is the time when most of the migratory birds visit this sanctuary.
3 Eravikulam National Park
Cover 15 km from Munnar and you reach the wonderful Eravikulam National Park. Located in Idukki District, Eravikulam National Park is a beautiful grassland ecosystem with refreshing rivulets. The National Park is particularly famous for the Nilgiri Tahr, an endangered species of goat. You should avoid visiting it from January to April because it is the calving season for Nilgiri Tahrs.
Best time to visit – April to June
4 Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
18 Km to the North of the Marayoor town in the Idukki district, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is a delighting place where you can witness the rare Grizzled Giant Squirrels. Covering 90 sq km and registered with 225 species of birds, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is a perfect paradise for birdwatchers.
Best time to visit – December to April
5 Silent Valley National Park
A stunning rainforest situated in the Palakkad district of Kerala, Silent Valley National Park is spread in 90 sq km of area. The wonderful fact is that the Park is one of the most natural and unspoiled rainforests in the entire country. The lion-tailed macaque is the major attraction of this beautiful National Park. Leopard, Sloth Bear, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri Langur, and Spotted Dear are other important species of this Park.
Best Time to Visit – November to March
6 Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
Announced in 1984, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the western slopes of the Western Ghats. Spread in 55 sq km, this sanctuary is home to a variety of flora and fauna. Located in the southeast zone of the Kannur district, its major variety of animals include Jungle Cats, Elephants, Bison, Boar, Sloth Bear, Sambar, Leopards, and many kinds of squirrels.
Best Time to Visit: June to October
If you are from those wildlife enthusiasts who don’t delay to flock to the world-famous sanctuaries or national parks, you should not miss these too.
