Discover India's Wild Heritage
Explore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksExplore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksRemote Montane Forest Above the Cardamom Hills
Kerala
Image: Vinay Robin Antony / CC BY-SA 4.0Welcome to Mathikettan Shola National Park! Use the resources below to plan your adventure in one of India's most treasured wild spaces.
Safaris, bird watching, nature walks, and more
Safari timings, open seasons, and park schedules
Entry fees, safari charges, and camera fees
How to reach by air, rail, and road
Official booking links, permits, and offline reservation guidance
Nearby stays, forest rest houses, and booking resources
There is no standard public online booking portal for Mathikettan Shola. Confirm access, trekking permission, and forest escort requirements with the Munnar wildlife division before travel.
This park is best approached as a guided or planned high-range outing; steep roads, weather, and limited facilities reduce accessibility for travelers needing barrier-free infrastructure.
Mathikettan Shola National Park protects high-elevation shola forest, grassland edges, and stream-fed slopes in eastern Idukki. The park is less visited than Kerala's headline destinations, which gives it a more secluded feel. It is important for the hydrology and biodiversity of the southern Western Ghats and adds continuity to the cluster of protected high-range forests around Munnar, Pampadum, and Anamudi Shola.
| Season | Morning Safari | Evening Safari |
|---|---|---|
| Preferred Season (Oct - Mar) | Daylight visits with permission | Return before dusk |
Confirm current route access and whether guided entry is being offered before traveling into the high ranges east of Munnar.
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Entry/Permit | As notified by Kerala forest authorities |
| Guide/Vehicle | Varies by route and current arrangement |
Plan for permit-led access rather than spontaneous walk-in tourism.
Mathikettan Shola National Park, Idukki district, Kerala
10.0333° N, 77.1333° E
Cochin International Airport is the main gateway to the Munnar-Idukki high ranges.
Aluva and Ernakulam are practical railheads; onward travel is by road into the hills.
The park is reached through high-range roads east of Munnar toward Poopara and adjoining forest stretches; verify the exact approach before travel.
Use experienced hill drivers, hired taxis, or local vehicles familiar with estate and forest roads.
Shola evergreen forest, montane grassland, shrubs, fern-rich undergrowth, and cool streamside vegetation.
Mathikettan supports elephants, ungulates, carnivores, high-range birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates that depend on southern Western Ghats montane habitat.
Mathikettan Shola was notified as a national park in 2003 to conserve a fragile high-range shola ecosystem and strengthen habitat continuity in the Munnar-Idukki landscape.
