Parambikulam Tiger Reserve
Nestled in the Chittur taluk of Palakkad district, this area measuring 643.66 square kilometers is home to a wide range of species. Around 40 species of mammals, 47 species of fish and 250 species of birds call this their home. They dwell alongside 124 species of butterflies and 1000 or so separate species of insects.
The Terrapin perches on a log of wood as the Bison and Spotted Deer make their way to open pasture land. The Bush Frogs and Mugger Crocodiles lurk in their own spots while the egrets and Cormorants loiter around noisily. Somewhere in the forest, the squirrels give out a screech of warning. This land belongs to the majestic Tigers. Welcome to the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, where one can still find nature in its purest and most pristine form.
The name of the reserve itself is derived from two words; 'parambu' (reeds) and 'kulam'(waterhole). Inside what is considered the world’s first scientifically managed teak plantation lies the great Kannimara tree. This tree is the oldest and largest of its kind and is believed to be over 350 years old. Four adults side by side would be needed to encompass its girth. The tribals worship it as a symbol of the Gods and its magnificence is amplified by the sheer magnitude of its size and reach.
