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Home of the Nilgiri Tahr

Eravikulam National Park

Roof of South India

Kerala

Image: N.A. Nazeer / CC BY-SA 2.5 IN
Vehicle Restriction
Private vehicles are not allowed inside the park. Visitors must use the park shuttle bus from the main gate to the viewing area.
Calving Season Closure
The park closes during the Nilgiri tahr calving season (January 15 - March 15) to protect breeding animals.

Plan Your Visit

Welcome to Eravikulam National Park! Use the resources below to plan your adventure in one of India's most treasured wild spaces.

Reservations

Check official Kerala forest ecotourism channels for current ticketing and program reservations before visiting.

Lodging

Munnar
Extensive accommodation in Munnar town (15 km from park). From budget homestays to luxury resorts. Windermere Estate, Spice Tree Munnar, and Club Mahindra are popular.
Tea Estate Stays
Stay at heritage tea estate bungalows like Lockhart Tea Factory, Kolukkumalai, or Sienna Village for a unique plantation experience.

Book your stay

Browse stays in Munnar Booking.com

This link opens Booking.com, a third-party site.

Visitor Centers

Eravikulam Park Gate
Rajamala Road • 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Ticket counter, shuttle bus departure point, and basic information. Small exhibit on Nilgiri tahr conservation.

Rules & Regulations

  • No private vehicles — shuttle bus only
  • Stay on designated walking trails
  • Do not feed or approach the tahr
  • No plastic bags or bottles
  • No loud noise
  • No smoking
  • Return to the bus stop by closing time

Accessibility

One of India's most accessible parks for casual visitors. The shuttle bus is comfortable. The Rajamala viewing trail is a gently graded 2 km walk with paved sections. Suitable for most fitness levels. The altitude (2,000 m) may cause mild breathlessness for some visitors.

Basic Information

About This Park

Eravikulam National Park, perched atop the Kannan Devan Hills near Munnar in Kerala, is home to the largest surviving population of the Nilgiri tahr — an endangered mountain goat endemic to the southern Western Ghats. The park's rolling shola-grassland landscape at 2,000 meters elevation offers some of the most stunning scenery in south India. Anamudi (2,695 m), the highest peak in south India, lies within the park. Eravikulam is also famous for the Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) — a flower that blooms en masse only once every 12 years, painting entire hillsides blue-violet. The next bloom is expected in 2030.

Operating Hours & Seasons

SeasonMorning SafariEvening Safari
Open Season7:30 AM - 4:00 PMLast entry by 4:00 PM

Entry by park shuttle bus only. The bus takes visitors to the Rajamala area where the tahr are habituated and easily observed. Walking trails from the bus stop. Total visit time: 2-3 hours.

Closure PeriodJanuary 15 - March 15 (tahr calving season). Also closed during heavy monsoon rain (August-September, variable).

Fees & Passes

CategoryAmount
Entry Fee (Indian)INR 125 per person
Entry Fee (Foreigner)INR 420 per person
Shuttle BusIncluded in entry fee
Camera FeeINR 25 (still)

One of the simpler park visits in India. Buy tickets at the gate, take the shuttle bus, walk the viewing trail, and return. No separate safari vehicles needed. Ideal for families and casual visitors.

Weather

☀️ Summer
March - May
10°C - 25°C
Pleasant. Wildflowers in bloom. Clear views. Best season after the calving closure ends in mid-March.
🌧️ Monsoon
June - September
8°C - 18°C
Heavy southwest monsoon rain. Misty and atmospheric. Park may close temporarily during very heavy rain. Leeches on trails.
❄️ Winter
October - January
5°C - 20°C
Cool and clear. Excellent visibility. Peak tourist season. Mornings can be cold at this altitude. January brings the calving season closure.

Contact Information

Phone
+91-4865-231587
Website
Authority
Wildlife Warden, Eravikulam National Park, Munnar, Kerala

Directions & Transportation

Physical Address

Eravikulam National Park, Rajamala, Idukki District, Kerala 685612

10.1833° N, 77.0667° E

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By Air

Nearest airport is Cochin International Airport (130 km, 4 hours). Madurai Airport (170 km) is an alternative.

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By Train

Nearest railway station is Aluva/Ernakulam (130 km) or Udumalpet (70 km, Tamil Nadu side).

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By Road

The park gate is 15 km from Munnar on the Munnar-Udumalpet road. Munnar is 130 km from Kochi (4 hours), well-connected by bus and taxi. The drive to Munnar through tea plantations is scenic.

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Local Transport

Taxis and auto-rickshaws from Munnar to the park gate (15 km). Park shuttle bus from gate to viewing area. No private vehicles inside.

Things to Do

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Tahr Viewing
Walk along the Rajamala trail to observe Nilgiri tahr at close range. These endangered mountain goats are habituated and surprisingly approachable.
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Scenic Walks
Walk through rolling shola-grassland landscape with spectacular views of the Western Ghats and surrounding tea plantations.
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Bird Watching
Over 130 species including Nilgiri Pipit, Kerala Laughingthrush, Black-and-orange Flycatcher, and various montane species.
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Tea Plantation Tour
Visit surrounding Kannan Devan tea estates (outside the park). Munnar is the heart of Kerala's tea country.
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Photography
Stunning landscape photography. Tahr with misty mountain backgrounds are iconic shots. Wildflower meadows in spring are spectacular.

Nature & Wildlife

Key Wildlife

Nilgiri TahrNilgiri LangurLion-tailed MacaqueIndian GaurLeopardNilgiri MartenOver 130 bird species

Flora

Shola-grassland ecosystem — a unique mosaic of stunted evergreen forests (sholas) in valleys and grasslands on ridges. Over 450 plant species. The Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) blooms once every 12 years. Rhododendrons, orchids, and balsams are common.

Fauna

Home to over 800 Nilgiri tahr — the largest population anywhere. Also hosts Nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaque (rare), leopards, Nilgiri marten (one of the rarest mammals in India), and Atlas moth (one of the world's largest moths).

Learn About the Park

History

The Kannan Devan Hills were part of vast tea estates. In 1971, the Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary was created to protect the Nilgiri tahr. It became Eravikulam National Park in 1978. The tahr population has recovered from about 100 in the 1970s to over 800 today. The park gained international fame during the 2006 and 2018 Neelakurinji blooms, when the once-in-12-years flowering drew hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Quick Facts

Established
1978
Area
97 sq km
State
Kerala
Designation
Home of the Nilgiri Tahr

References

  1. Eravikulam National Park official visitor information Wildlife Warden, Eravikulam National Park, Munnar, Kerala
  2. Check Munnar area lodging Kerala Tourism Development Corporation
  3. Check park visitor guidance Eravikulam National Park
  4. Check Kerala forest ecotourism bookings Kerala Forest Ecotourism
  5. Eravikulam National Park location map OpenStreetMap contributors
  6. Eravikulam National Park thumbnail image source Wikimedia Commons