The Eravikulam National Park (15 kms from Munnar) is situated in the Devikulam
Taluk of the Idukki District. It lures the travellers with its irresistible
grace and beauty. The 97 sq km park lies along the high ranges of
the western coast in the Munnar Forest Division of Idukki district in
Kerala. It is situated on the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the north
where it extends as the Annamalai National Park. The mountains covered
with the rolling grasslands and high level sholas is breath-takingly beautiful.
This park was established to protect the Nilgiri Tahr also known as the
Nilgiri Ibex. The Rajamala is the natural habitat of this rare mountain
goat. Half the world population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragas
hylocres) lives here. (Around 1317, according to the 1991 census).Besides
the Nilgiri tahr other important fauna are elephant, leopard, tiger, malabar
civet, sambar, barking deer, nilgai, langur, phyhon etc. The birds found
are imperial pigeon, grey jungle fowl etc.
It was declared as a sanctuary in 1975. Considering
the ecological, faunal, floral, geo-morphological and zoological significance,
it was declared as a National park in 1978. The park is divided
into 3 regions - the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area.
Visitors are allowed only to the tourism area which is
in the Rajamala region. Trekking facilities are available here. Anamudi(2694
m), the highest peak, south of the Himalayas, is situated in the south
of the park.The towering Anamudi, shrouded in a delicate film of
mist, and then suddenly swathed in sunlight, is a sight so spectacular
that it will remain fresh in the memory of every visitor. Neelakurinji,
a unique species of flowers that sprout once in 12 years, grows profusely
on these grasslands, transforming vast areas of hilly terrain into floral
celebration. A lot of tourists come to Eravikulam to marvel at this blue-spangled
phenomenon.
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Wildlife 
