Location: About 110 km
from Palakkad.
Parambikkulam is an oasis of tranquil greenery nestled in a
valley between
the Anamalai ranges of Tamilnadu and the Nelliyampathy
ranges of Kerala. The
Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary spreads over
an area of 285 sq km in the
Western Ghats.
The
sanctuary offers an exotic experience of the rare fauna of Kerala. Quite
a few hill tribes, like the Malayars, the Kadars and the Muthuvans also
live in
the jungles of Parambikkulam. The fauna here include bonnet
macaques, Nilgiri
langurs, Lion-tailed macaques, tigers, spectacled
cobras, kraits, vipers,
turtles, darters, little cormorants and black
eagles.
The sanctuary also has a variety of trees
mainly teak, neem, sandalwood and
rosewood. The oldest teak tree
'Kannimari' stands tall here.
Boat cruises can
be arranged in the Parambikkulam Reservoir. Trekking in the
sanctuary is
possible with the permission of forest officials. There is a
tree-house
in the Reserve Forest area in Thoonakkadavu, the headquarters of
Parambikkulam, which has to be booked in advance. The Rest Houses of the
State
Forest Department at Thoonakkadavu, Thellikkal and Elathode offer
comfortable
lodging.
Getting there:
Parambikkulam is accessible by road from Pollachi
in Tamilnadu.
Palakkad-Pollachi is about 45 km by road and
Pollachi-Parambikkulam is
about 65 km by road.
Nearest railway
station:
Pollachi about 65 km.
Nearest
airport: Coimbatore in Tamilnadu state, about 55
km from
Palakkad. |