Kerala - Rajamalai National Park!!!

Next morning, 13th of October and it was the 5^th day of our tour itinerary. We left the hotel as early as 6 am for Rajamalai National Park also known as Eravikulam National Park, Our bus dropped us at the gate as it was not permitted to enter the area and then after buying required tickets we bundled into a mini bus provided by the park. We have to leave all our belongings as eatable and any sort of plastic was prohibited. After around 15 minutes, we alighted from the bus and we had to walk around a kilometer up to the hill. It was a pleasant surprise as after long time I was trekking even there was a well constructed road but still feeling was the same.  While walking I could see the tea estate below, the view was awesome.

 Rajamalai National Park [Eravikulam National Park]

This park is abundantly rich with shola forests and grasses, and is yet fairly new as it was after construction in 1978. The park is sited in the Idukki district. It is located on the borders of Kerala and Tamilnadu.

The history says that during the British rule, this region was owned by Rajamalai and Eravikulam, and then it was given to Kannan Deven Hills for tea plantation. Later it was declared as sanctuary and was founded in 1975 and upgraded as national park in 1978.

Some of the animals spotted here are Elephant, Nilgiri langur, Nilgiri marten, small-clawed otter and a rare tiger or leopard and the Nilgiri wood pigeon.

The main body of the park consists of a high rolling hill plateau with a base elevation of about 2,000 m. The terrain consists of high altitude grasslands interspersed with sholas.

Fauna

Twenty six species of mammals have been recorded in the park including the largest surviving population of Nilgiri Tahr, estimated at about 750 in number. The other ungulates are Gaur, Indian Muntjac and Sambar Deer. Golden Jackal, Jungle Cat, Wild dog, Dhole, leopard and tiger are the main predators. Some little known animals such as Nilgiri langur, Stripe-necked Mongoose, Indian Porcupine, Nilgiri Marten, small clawed otter, Ruddy Mongoose, and Dusky palm squirrel are also found. Elephants make seasonal visits.

 

Flora

Three major types of plant communities are found in the Park - grasslands, shrublands and forests. The terrain above 2000m is covered primarily by grasslands. However, there are numerous small patches of forests in hollows and gullies in these areas. The deeper valleys are extensively forested. Shrublands predominate along the bases of the cliffs and interspersed in rocky slab areas. The antibacterial Eupatorium glandulosum is found here.

!!We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment. - Hilaire Belloc!!!