KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER
Pambadum Shola National Park
Undulating terrain with hillocks of varying heights, where a misty and cloudy climate prevails throughout the year, where a wide range of habitats shelter species that are rare and endemic, providing a wide range of flora and fauna. This is just an overview of the fascinating Pambadum Shola National Park, the smallest national park in Kerala.
35 km away from the Munnar town in Idukki district, another prominent hill station in Kerala the Pambadum Shola is located in the eastern part of Southern Western Ghats of Kerala on the way to Vattavada. The region with its captivating beauty is fast becoming a favourite eco-tourism destination in Kerala. The green meadows, clear blue sky, clean air and the thick foliage are something irresistible for any tourist. Eco-tourism activities here are organized jointly by the Department of Forest and Eco-development Committees comprising members of the local tribal communities. This guarantees an authentic, secure and intimate experience of wilderness to the visitors.
The name Pambadum Shola means the 'forest where snakes dance'. The forest here is a continuous patch, which is home to diverse habitat types, including rare flora and fauna. Around 22 species of trees, 74 species of herbs and shrubs and 16 species of climbers have been spotted here. There are various types of medicinal plants (herbs), of which studies have been conducted. The fauna includes several threatened, rare or endemic species and a variety of medicinal plants. Considering the size of the forest the numbers of rare species found here are quite high.
The fauna wealth includes 14 species of birds, 9 species of mammals, 100 species of butterflies and 93 species of moths. If you are so determined and lucky you can even have a glimpse of the Nilgiri Marten, leopards and Indian wild dogs that are sometimes sighted at dusk or dawn. Other animals commonly found in the park are elephant, gaur, wild boar, sambar and common langur.
Months from April to September have pleasant climate and is the ideal time to visit the park. Several interesting eco tourism activities are available here. Nature Trail; an adventure trekking through the Munnar-Kodaikanal forest road to the watchtower at Vandaravu is one of the favourite options of tourists. Trekking to shola forests and stay at log houses at Kuttikadu and Neduvarpu are also exciting.
Contact
The Wildlife Warden
Munnar PO, Idukki
Kerala, India - 685 612
Ph: + 91 4865 231587,
Mob: +91 9447979093
E-mail: ww-munnar@forest.kerala.gov.in
or
Assistant Wildlife Warden
Shola National Parks Range
Top Station, Ellapatty P.O.
Vattavada, Idukki
Kerala - 685615
Getting there:
Nearest railway stations: Aluva, about 180 km and Udumalpet about 110 km neighbouring state, Tamil Nadu
Nearest airports: Cochin International Airport, about 170 km and Coimbatore International Airport about 160 km in neighbouring state, Tamil Nadu.
