Situated in a valley stretching over 285 sq kms in the Palakkad district of Kerala, this sanctuary boasts of being the first ever scientifically managed teak plantation and has the world’s tallest teak trees.
The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is a reservoir of tranquil greenery ensconced in a valley between the Annamalai ranges of Tamil Nadu and the Neliyampathy ranges of Kerala. The hilly and rocky areas are drained by several rivers, including the Parambikulam, the Sholayar and the Thekkedy.
Thickly forested with bamboo, sandalwood, rosewood and teak, the sanctuary has some marshy land and scattered patches of grassland.
Best For:
Parambikulam has one of the largest populations of gaur (bison). It is also a home to elephants, sloth bears, wild boars, sambhars, chital tigers, panthers and crocodiles. There are also bonnet macaques, spectacled cobras, kraits, vipers, turtles, darters, little cormorants and black eagles.
Parambikulam is open throughout the year, but during monsoon, between June and August, the torrential showers hit with great force, causing hillsides and forcing some of the forest roads to remain closed. The best time to visit is from October to March.
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There are banks at the district headquarters at Palakkad but it is safer to get foreign currency changed at any of the international airports of Kerala – Cochin, Calicut and Thiruvanantapuram. Visitors arriving from Ooty or Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu or from Bangalore in Karnataka, can get currency changed in the bigger towns and cities.
By Air: Coimbatore has a domestic airport served by Indian Airlines and Jet Airways.
International Flight:
Flights from most of the cities around the world operate to Thiruvantapuram, Cochin and Calicut, the three international airports of Kerala. Flights from some Middle East countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, operate on a daily basis. Emirates Airline follows the UK- Dubai-Kerala route while Air Sri Lanka flies UK- Colombo- Kerala.
By Road: The nearest town to Parambikulam is Pollachi in the state of Tamil Nadu, 48 kms from Thunakadavu. Two daily buses operate at 10am and 5pm from the town to the sanctuary. Important towns in Kerala- such as Kochi, Thrissur, Nenmarra and Kollangodu- are connected by road to Parambikulam. Touring the sanctuary is possible by boat or jeep; both can be hired from the park authorities
By Rail: Pollachi is the nearest railhead and has train connections to Coimbatore and Palakkad. Both Coimbatore (88 kms from Parambikulam) and Palakkad (97 kms from the sanctuary) are important railway junctions with a number of trains coming in from even as far as Delhi.
The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is a reservoir of tranquil greenery ensconced in a valley between the Annamalai ranges of Tamil Nadu and the Neliyampathy ranges of Kerala. Thickly forested with bamboo, sandalwood, rosewood and teak, the sanctuary has some marshy land and scattered patches of grassland. Parambikulam was once home to some of south India's finest teak. Little remains of the original teak forests, other than the famous Kannimari teak tree.
There are two watchtowers one at Anappadi, 8kms from Thunakadavu, and other at Zungam-5kms from Thunakadavu. Visitors can climb these towers for a better view of the flora and fauna. Parambikulam has one of the largest populations of gaur (bison). It is also a home to elephants, sloth bears, wild boars, sambhars, chital tigers, panthers and crocodiles. There are also bonnet macaques, spectacled cobras, kraits, vipers, turtles, darters, little cormorants and black eagles.
Shopping:
Spices and handicraft items are for sale at the small shops along the way to the sanctuary.
The district headquarters at Palakkad has small eateries where simple, yet fresh food can be had. It is safer to carry drinking water if one plans to spend the day at the sanctuary.
Visitors to Parambikulam can stay at the forest rest houses at Thunakadavu (the headquarters of the sanctuary), Thellikal and Elathode.
Another option is the interesting tree house at Thunakadavu; . If visiting neighbouring Annamalai, one could stay in the Top Slip area, the headquarters of Annamalai. The place is about half an hour’s drive from Thunakadavu and offers a number of accommodation options.
Accommodation can be reserved through the Range Officer, Thunakadavu. Rooms at the Thunakadavu PWD Rest house and the TamilNadu Government Inspection Bungalow can be booked through the Junior Engineer, TamilNadu PWD, Parambikulam.
The nearby towns of Coimbatore and Palakkad, by virtue of their size and importance, offer a much wider range of accommodation and are a good base for visitors to Parambikulam. Rooms in either of the two towns usually cost between a couple of hundred rupees for basic amenities to around a thousand or slightly more for fancier accommodation.
Kandathu Tharavad Home stay, located 55 kms from Calicut International Airport, is the ideal place to experience the true village life of Kerala in royal settings. This ancestral home of the Kandath family is set in a rustic village covered in carpets of green paddy fields, outside the scenic Palakkad town.
Activities nearby include biking, trekking in the Silent Valley National Park, bird watching and fishing excursions, day houseboat cruise, bullock cart rides, toddy tapping, yoga and meditation, Ayurvedic massage, cookery classes, dance and music performances.
Further information about Parambikulam can be obtained from the Wildlife Warden at Thunakadavu or the Divisional Forest Officer, Teak Plantation Division, Thunakadavu Post, Parambikulam, Palakkad District, Kerala.
Pothundy is located45 kms from Palakkad. It is situated on the way to Neliyampathy, the Pothundy Reservoir Complex is a charming location for picnics and half-day trips.
Thiruvalathoor is located 10 kms from Palakkad. The ancient temple here has some fine wood work and stone sculptures.
Neliyampathy is 40 kms south of Nenmara. This fascinating hill station is at a height of 467 to 1572 m above sea level. At least 10 hair pin bends have to be negotiated on the Ghat road that passes through the breathtaking evergreen forests of the SahyadriRanges. Seethakundu at Neliyampathy offers a panoramic view of about one third of Palakkad. This hill country is the delight of trekkers. The DTPC Palakkad offers accommodation in the tourist resort with all facilities (6 double rooms and 2 dormitories). Ph: 346212
JainTemple of Jainmedu Situated on the western suburbs of Palakkad town, not far from the railway station, this historic 32 feet long, 20 feet wide granite temple displays images of the Jain Tirthankars and Yakshinis.
SilentValleyNational Park(40 km northwest of Mannarkad): The 89.52 sq. km national park is believed to be the sole surviving bit of evergreen forests in the SahyadriRanges. The peculiarity of the SilentValley forest is that it is devoid even of the chirping of cicadas.
Permitting authority: Wildlife Warden, SilentValleyNational Park, Mukkali Ph: 453225.
