Eravikulam National Park covers about 97 sq km of high, rolling grassland and dark shola forest in the Western Ghats, just north of Munnar. It was Kerala’s first national park, declared in 1978, and it protects the largest surviving population of the Nilgiri tahr, a sure-footed mountain goat found only in the Western Ghats.
Anamudi, at 2,695 metres the highest peak in South India, rises inside the park. Visitors see only a small part – the Rajamala tourism zone on the southern edge – but the views, the cool air and the chance of watching tahr at close range make it the most popular sight around Munnar.
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History and landscape
Before 1971 the area was a game preserve managed by the Kanan Devan Hills Produce Company, which ran the tea estates around Munnar. The Kerala government took it back that year, created the Eravikulam–Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary in 1975 to protect the tahr, and upgraded it to a national park in 1978. The park is managed by the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department’s Munnar Wildlife Division.
Most of the park sits on a plateau around 2,000 metres high. Grasslands cover the open slopes, while patches of evergreen shola forest fill the folds and valleys. Streams rising here feed both the Periyar river, flowing west, and the Kaveri system to the east.
Wildlife you may see
The Nilgiri tahr is the star. The park’s population has been estimated at around 750 animals, and at Rajamala they are used to people and often graze near the road. Other mammals recorded include Nilgiri langur, gaur, sambar, leopard and dhole, though these are much harder to spot. Around 132 bird species have been recorded, including endemics such as the Nilgiri pipit and Nilgiri wood pigeon. The park is also known for its frogs and butterflies – some species are found nowhere else.
Every twelve years or so the slopes turn blue with the flowering of Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana). The last mass flowering in the Munnar hills was in 2018.
How a visit works
Private vehicles are not allowed into the tourism zone. You park near the entry point on the Munnar–Marayur road and take a Forest Department bus up to Rajamala, then walk along a paved road with viewpoints over the valleys and tea estates. All movement elsewhere in the park is on foot along trails, and those areas are closed to casual visitors.
The park is normally closed for about two months from 1 February for the tahr calving season, reopening around 1 April. Tickets are sold online and at the park, with extra charges for cameras. At the time of writing, visiting hours run from morning to mid-afternoon. Dates, hours and fees change, so check the official booking site before you go. In peak season, particularly April–May and holiday weekends, queues for the buses can be long.
Tips
- Go early: the first buses of the morning have the shortest queues and the best chance of clear views before mist rolls in.
- Wear layers: it is cold and windy on the plateau, and rain can come in quickly.
- Shoes: comfortable walking shoes; the road is steep in places.
- Respect the tahr: do not touch, feed or crowd them.
- Leave no litter: avoid carrying plastic and take a reusable water bottle.
Visiting from Pondicherry
Munnar is about 463 km from Pondicherry, around 10 hours by road, so plan at least two nights there. Eravikulam is part of our Kerala tour: Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey, which continues to the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Park tickets are not included and must be bought separately. See our wildlife and nature and tea and coffee plantations pages for more.
Frequently asked questions
When is Eravikulam National Park closed?
It is normally closed for about two months from 1 February for the Nilgiri tahr calving season, reopening around 1 April. Dates are set each year by the Forest Department, so check before you go.
Can I drive my own car into Eravikulam National Park?
No. Private vehicles park near the entry point and visitors travel to the Rajamala zone in Forest Department buses, then walk.
What is Eravikulam National Park famous for?
It holds the largest population of the endangered Nilgiri tahr and includes Anamudi, the highest peak in South India at 2,695 metres.
When will Neelakurinji bloom again in Munnar?
Neelakurinji flowers en masse roughly once every twelve years. The last mass flowering in the Munnar hills was in 2018.