Muzhappilangad Beach-Drive-In Beach

Location: About 15 km from Kannur and 8 km from Thalassery, Kannur district, North Kerala.

The Muzhappilangad beach which stretches across four kilometres of sand is a drive-in-beach where one can drive down the entire length. Calm and serene, the place is secluded and remains unexplored. Huge black rocks scattered here protect this long beach from the deep currents, and form a tranquil pool of shallow waters that is a swimmer's paradise. The palm groves fringing the beach are a cool hideaway from the tropical sun.

Getting there: Muzhappilangad beach is just a kilometre to the West of National Highway 17.

Nearest railway station: Kannur, an important railhead of Southern Railway.
Nearest airport: Kozhikode International Airport, about 93 km from Kannur town.

Muzhappilangad Beach is the only drive-in beach in Kerala. It is located parallel to National Highway 17 between Kannur and Thalassery. One can drive the entire 4 km length of the beach.
There is an unpaved road winding through coconut groves leading to the beach. The beach is bordered by black rocks, which also protect it from the stronger currents

 of the ocean.

Approximately 100-200 m south of the beach there is a private island called Dharmadam Island. It is possible to walk to the island during low tide.

Muzhappilangad is the one of the important tourist destination of kerala.Its drive in beach, the second largest in india, has already entered in the world tourism map.The drive-in-beach is fast developing tourist spot which is attracting both local and foreign people in large numbers.

The shores of the Muzhappilangad beach are lined with black boulders, which protects the shores from the lashing waves and also make a natural shallow place. One can easily swim in this natural shallow pool of water without having to fear the powerful currents. One can soak up the sun while lying lazily on the rocks. It is a beach lover's paradise. The calm yet enthralling ambience of the beach is what makes it a popular getaway for tourists.

Muzhappilangad Beach is the only Drive-In Beach of Asia where you can drive entire length of 4 Km. It is located between parallel to National Highway NH-17 between Thalassery and Kannur in Kerala. Muzhappilangad Beach is one of the popular beaches of Kerala and it is located at a distance of 8 Km from Thalassery and 16 Km from Kannur.
The main attraction of this Muzhappilangad beach is a beach festival is celebrated in the month of April. This festival attracts many people and young adventurous people try many driving stunts in cars like drifting and wheeling in bikes as this is a paradise for driving along the shore.

You can find an unpaved road winding via coconut groves leading towards the beach. The beach is surrounded by black rocks, which also safeguard it from the stronger currents of sea.

The charming feel of this picturesque Muzhappilangad beach invites you to swim, take a sun bathe, or simply be idle around. From Muzhappilangad, you can also observe the Dharmadam Island or the Green Island. An amazing combination of beach and island is just across the Anjarakkandy River.

Since 1990, the Muzhappilangad beach has seen a consistent arrival of European tourists during winter.

Rajamalai (Eravikulam) National Park

It is an ideal place for seeing the biodiversity of high elevation shola-grassland ecosystem. Visitors are taken to Rajamalai in forest dept vehicles and given an opportunity to see all this. Private vehicles are not allowed here. The National Park is usually closed at the time of calving of Nilgiri Tahr which is usually during the early months of every year.

This photo of Rajamalai (Eravikulam) National Park is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Location: 15 km from Munnar.

Visiting hours: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.

A sanctuary for the endangered mountain goat of South India, the Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrious), the Eravikulam National Park stands out for the stark beauty of its rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97 sq km in the Kannan devan hills.

Anamudi, the highest peak (2695 m) south of Himalayas, stands majestically in the core area of the national park. The slopes of the hills abound in many kinds of rare flora which include rare terrestrial and epiphytic orchids, and beautiful wild balsams. Important fauna here are the Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Langur, leopard, tiger, Indian bison, etc.

Rajamalai is the tourism zone of the National Park, where the visitors are taken in forest dept vehicles and introduced to the shola - grassland eco system unique to this region. There is a very informative interpretation centre at Rajamalai.

A protected area, the sanctuary is divided into three regions - the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area. Visitors are allowed only to the tourism area - Rajamalai - the region lying beyond the road entry into Eravikulam. Here one can observe the Nilgiri Tahr at close quarters.

Don't make this your destination during the early months of the year, the park may be closed for visitors because it is calving time of the Tahr.

Getting there: Eravikulam is 15 km from Munnar.

Nearest railway station: Kottayam, about 142 km from Munnar; Ernakulam, about 130 km from Munnar.

Nearest airport: Madurai (Tamilnadu) about 142 km; Cochin International Airport, about 150 km.

Perched 7000 ft. above sea level, is break taking in the size and diversity of flora and fauna. A former hunting preserve of the British planters, the Park today exemplifies wildlife at its best. It was declared a Sanctuary in 1975 with the intention of protecting the indigenous population of Nilgiri Tahr(highly endangered mountain goat). However, in 1978, it was declared as a National Park considering it’s ecological, faunal, geomorphological and Zoological Significance. This is also the land of “Neelakurinji”, the flower that blooms once in twelve years. The Park is breath takingly beautiful and is easily comparable to the best of mountain ranges in the Alps.  With the highest peak south of the Himalayas – the Anamudi, located here, nature enthusiasts have ample opportunities for trekking expeditions and wildlife spotting.

Extent

This photo of Rajamalai (Eravikulam) National Park is courtesy of TripAdvisor
This photo of Rajamalai (Eravikulam) National Park is courtesy of TripAdvisor The Park covers an area of 97 Km2 of rolling grasslands and high level sholas.

Year of  formation: 1978

Location
     Situated in Devikulam Taluk of Idukki District on SH17 (Udumalpet Road)
  100 10’ - 100 20’ North and 770 0’ - 770 10’ East.                                                                       

Access

Road:Eravikulam is nearly 15 Km north of Munnar and can be reached from Kochi (135 Km) and Kottayam (148 Km) by Road.
Rail:  The nearest railway station in Kerala is Aluva (120 Km from Munnar) and Coimbatore (165 Km) in Tamil Nadu.
Air:   The Park is accessible from Cochin (Kerala) and Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) airports, which are located at about 148 Km and 175 Km respectively. 

Climate

    The Park receives heavy showers during the southwest (June/July) and retreating (October/November) Monsoons and is one of the wettest area of the World. April & May are the hottest months. The occurrence of frost is quite common during the winter (December to February)

This photo of Rajamalai (Eravikulam) National Park is courtesy of TripAdvisor Topography                                                                                                                        

    The terrain is undulating with grass, hillocks, and sholas. In addition the highest peak south of the Himalayas – The Anamudi, which is 2695 meters in height is situated on the southern side of the Park.

Vegetation
      The major part of the park is covered with rolling grasslands, but several patches of shola forests are also found in the upper part of the valley. Important flora includes Actinodaphne bourdilloni, Microtropis ramiflora, Pittosporum tetraspermium, Sysygium aronottianum,  Chrysopogon Zelanieus, Eupatorium adenophorum, Strobilanthus Kunthianus (Neela Kurinji), Eulalia phaeothrix, Tripogen bromodes, Arundinella fuscata, Cyanotis Species etc.
      The shola grasslands are exceptionally rich in balsams and orchids including the long thought extinct varietyBrachycorythis wightii .

Wildlife Population

           29 Species of mammals are found here of which 5 are endemic to the Western Ghat’s. The Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Langur, Tiger, Leopard, Giant Squirrel and wild dog are common. Half the world population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr lives here. Panthers are usually sighted in the open grasslands while Civet cats and Jungle cats live in the Sholas.
          140 species of birds of which 10 are unique to the Western Ghat’s.
          The Atlas moth, the largest of its kind in the world is seen in this Park. More than 100 varieties of butterflies have been recorded here. Besides 20 species of amphibians are also seen. 

This photo of Rajamalai (Eravikulam) National Park is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Ecotourism                                                                                                                         
      Trekking and other activities at Eravikulam are limited to the tourism zone that is approachable by vehicle and is a high altitude rocky precipice. The view of the valley from here is fabulous and offers a satisfying trip for trekkers. A good pastime is the Lakhom Falls trail involving a one day trek from the water fall to Pakkumarathery where trekkers can have a look at the Anamudi Peak and opt for an overnight stay at the log house.

Silent Valley National Park

Attractions: Extremely fragile, a unique preserve of tropical evergreen rain forests which is a veritable nursery of flora and fauna, some of which are found nowhere else in the world.

The Silent Valley National Park with an area of 90 sq km is located in the Northeastern corner of Palakkad district. It rises abruptly to the Nilgiri Plateau in the North and overlooks the plains of Mannarkkad in the South.

The core of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is the Silent Valley National Park. Despite its name, the Silent Valley (the clamour of Cicadas is conspicuously absent here) is a rich storehouse of biodiversity. It is a true Garden of Eden for students of life sciences, professional scientists and field biologists.

Perhaps, nowhere else can one find such a representative collection of Western Ghats biodiversity - more than 1000 species of flowering plants which include about 110 species of orchids, more than 34 species of mammals, about 200 species of butterflies, 400 species of moths, 128 species of beetles of which 10 are new to science, about 150 species of birds including almost all the 16 endemic birds of southern India.

The River Kunthi descends from the Nilgiri hills, from an altitude of 2000 m above sea level, and traverses the entire length of the valley and rushes down to the plains through the deep forest. The River Kunthi never turns brown and is always crystal clear, perennial and wild.

The evapo-transpiration from these forests is much higher than from any other surface. This cools the atmosphere, helps easy condensation of water vapour, causing summer rains in the plains.

Getting there:

This photo of Silent Valley National Park is courtesy of TripAdvisor

This photo of Silent Valley National Park is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Nearest railway station: Palakkad, about 80 km.

Nearest airport: Coimbatore (in neighbouring Tamilnadu State), about 120 km.

Significance of Silent Valley National Park Exceptional Ecosystem diversity from moist deciduous, semi evergreen, evergreen and shola forests to montane grasslands. Effectively protected, representative example of evergreen forests in India. Exceptional species diversity and endemic value of evergreen and semi evergreen communities. Significant population of Lion Tailed Macaque and Nilgiri Langur Important watershed of Bharathapuzha This photo of Silent Valley National Park is courtesy of TripAdvisor Potential for wildlife research and education. Contiguous to Mukkurthi Tahr National Park, Reserve forests of Attappady and new Amarambalam area, a key component of a major conservation complex in the Western Ghats and Nilgiri Biosphere reserve. It comes under Project Elephant area Embodiment of nature conservation spirit in the country

Bio geographically, Silent Valley and the adjacent forests of the Western Ghats represent “ecological islands” in which it is possible to observe the conditions that prevailed before modifications set in, in the humid tropical forests of peninsular India. Though the stability of these ecological islands is fast dwindling, these ecological products introduce an important factor in the bio geographical evolution, viz. isolation mostly due to physical barriers as a result of the Palakkad gap. Isolation, therefore, has had the effect of preserving the relict characters of the flora and fauna of Silent Valley and adjacent areas, as indicated by the presence of primitive groups of flora and fauna. The distribution range of these relict species had been considerably restricted, presenting an apparent picture of endemism. The intermingling of Indo-Malayan elements in the flora and fauna of the area is due to preservation of the once extensive tropical forests, which extended over the whole of the Peninsula. The concentration and isolation of these elements only in some areas of the Ghats, present precarious picture of survival of relicts of an otherwise impoverished flora and fauna. The ecological regimes in the southern Western Ghats may be characterized within the following four categories. Elevation:- Low (<500M), moderate(500M -1500M), high(>1500 M) Precipitation:-  Dry (<1000 mm), moderate(1000 mm-2500 mm) wet (>2500 mm) Topography:-  Undulating, steep slopes Hydrology :-    Along water courses, away from water courses. Such a classification will give in combination, 36 different ecological zones. The Silent Valley Plateau represents a very well preserved example of undulating terrain at mid elevation in the high rainfall zone under two zones, one along the water course, Kunthipuzha and the other away from the water course. The Silent Valley Plateau, lying at the southwest corner of Nilgiris, sloping towards the south and is practically winged in by hills. The whole of the catchment’s forests are practically undisturbed, with no historical anthropogenic degradation, the sole exception being an attempt at coffee planting over 40 ha near the middle of Silent Valley Reserve during 1842, which was promptly abandoned in 1843, and also some selective felling amounting to 43,000 M3 for sleeper extraction from the southern half of the reserve. Because of the topographic isolation of the plateau, cut off as it is from the east, north, west and south by steep ridges end escarpments; there is little permeating influence from surrounding areas into this stretch of forests. There is no representation, comparable in area to the Silent Valley in the form of riparian and non-riparian ecosystems on undulating terrain at mid-elevation and in the high rainfall zone over the entire stretch of Western Ghats in Kerala. Silent Valley forests show all the known characteristics of the tropical rain forests. These include: a great network of surface roots in physical contact with moist leaf litter, the root mat having a biomass of 18 g dry weight in 5000 M3. laurel type leaves with entire margin and with a drip-tip in the mesophyl, thick and leathery for emergent and relatively thin for the under storey species very thin bark, less than 6mm in thickness woody nature of leaflets and profusion of woody climbers and epiphytes multi layered tree species with stature of more than 60 M with a trunk typically slender and often buttressed at the base, the crown depth and width being low compared to the trunk height tree density and basal area are comparable to the richest tropical rain forests in other parts of the world multi layered nature of the forest with emergent species raising their heads above the general canopy layer, consequently imparting an undulating bumpy look to the surface The number of tree species computed for the Silent Valley (118 vascular plants of 84 species in 0.4 ha) is very high compared to a range of 60 to 140 species that characterise the other known tropical forests. The Alpha Diversity Index is 4.8, which is the same as that of another well known tropical rain forest, Barro Colorado Islands in Panama Canal. Zoological Survey of India had conducted faunal survey in 5 different locations. The specimens were sorted out into species and the groups compared. The levels of diversity in the Silent Valley were found to be much higher than those of the other areas. The limited studies of the fauna of Silent Valley reveals that its rich resources as rare and unique – rare because many species which originally inhabited the entire belt of the Western Ghats have been lost due to destruction of their habitat by human beings or for other reasons. These faunal resources however are still available in Silent Valley, because of the relatively little human intrusion. It is unique because what little has been collected and studied has already proved to be of immense scientific interest from the taxonomic, zoogeographic and ecological points of view. A number of species, which were available in the Western Ghats 50 to 100 years ago and which have not been recorded subsequently, still exist in Silent Valley. They include insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. Type specimens of these, described earlier by scientists, have been deposited in museums outside India. Even prototypes are not available in India for referral studies. There are four stations in the park at different strategic locations. Year round presence of staff in these  places is the most effective protection measure. Foot patrolling  and occasional joint patrolling are done to protect the park. Now the situation had changed. Since a Buffer Zone has been created for the park, an exhaustive fool proof  protection mechanism has to be designed to protect the National Park a whole. The conventional strategies may not be enough. Certain innovative measures have to be considered to tackle the problem like poaching and ganja cultivation Eco-Develoment  As there were no human settlement inside the core area and  not many dependent communities around the park, eco development measures were on a low key. As a first step in strengthening the protection of the park a full fledged eco development programme has to be launched. Unlike other protected areas of Kerala the name Silent Valley has a special name in heart of nature lovers. Co operation and voluntary services of like minded people may also be sought in the designing and implementation of the programme. The prospect of eco development is manifold and multifaceted. At the initial phase the services of sociologists will be of immense help in bridging the gap between of the park management and the inhabitants of the Buffer Zone. Research and Monitoring A research and monitoring wing is being setup in the park to carryout small scale/ short term management oriented research and monitoring of the habitat. This wing will carry out regular monitoring of the flora /fauna in consultation with the scientists in respective fields. Apart from regular monitoring work, this wing will  carry out other surveys which are immediately useful to the park.One of the essential roles of research   wing is to assist  eco tourism and nature education. Nature trails  will becomes meaningless unless proper research is done  to produce materials and for giving training to the staff. Theme based publications and brouchers preparation by this wing will add to support nature education and eco tourism Nature Education Silent Valley is a learning centre for understanding the ecological aspects of tropical rain forests. Free two day nature camps are conducted for schools/ college students. Each camp comprises of illustrated talk on bio diversity conservation, field interpretation, nature walks, bird watching etc. Almost all schools and colleges of Palakkad district and many other institutions from other districts and adjoining states utilize this attractive facility. Apart from this paid nature camps are also organized. Habitat Protection and improvement The Buffer Zone and adjoining region of Silent Valley National Park are fire prone areas . Necessary steps like laying fire lines , engaging fire fighters etc and other preventive measures are taken to safe guard the forest wealth of Silent Valley National Park. Necessary habitat restoration woks are being considered to bring back natural vegetation of the degraded places in the newly added Buffer Zone. Located in the Nilgiri Mountain ranges, Silent Valley National Park is a wildlife paradise and boasts of lush green landscape and several wildlife species. Along with Mukhurti National Park and Karimpuzha National Park, Silent Valley National Park forms the core of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Explored in 1847 by Robert Wight, the park remains one of the last undisturbed territories of south Western Ghats montane rainforests and tropical moist evergreen forests in the country. Environmentalists saved the rich ecological beauty of the National Park from destruction by protesting against the development of a hydroelectric power plant in the valley during 1970’s. On November 15, 1984, the area of the reserved forest was declared as a National Park. The national park hosts over 1600 species of flora comprising mainly of evergreen and montane grasslands and over 858 species of fauna that includes 34 species of animals and about 500 species of butterflies and moths. It is also an excellent location for birdwatchers as the park is home to over 292 species of birds that include Nilgiri wood pigeon, blue winged parakeet, grey headed bulbul, white bellied blue flycatcher, broad tailed grass wabler, Nilgiri pipit, etc. The lion tailed macaque is the most popular attraction in Silent Valley National Park. Nilgiri langur, mouse deer, gaur, fishing cat, stripe necked mongoose, panther, etc. are some of the other exotic wildlife species found in the park. Snake lovers, if they are lucky, can be treated to the sight of cobra, King cobra, viper, rat snake and many other species of the slithery reptile. The beautiful Kunthi River which descends from an altitude of above 2000 feet from the Nilgiris passes through the national park. It is home to 13 species of fishes. Located at altitude ranging from 658 to 2383 metres and surrounded by high mountains, Silent Valley National Park enjoys salubrious climate. Located in Kerala, Silent Valley National Park is also known as Indira Gandhi National Park. However, locals refer to it as Sairandharivanam (another name of Draupadi). According to Hindu mythology, Pandavas along with Draupadi had stayed in the region of Silent Valley during during their exile. WHERE TO STAY Tourists are not allowed to camp within the Silent Valley National Park. However, there are a few dorms and guesthouses at Mukkali that provide budget accommodation. The guesthouses, inspection bungalows and dorms are comfortable and provide scenic views. However, be prepared for frequent power cuts if you plan to stay there. Most of the tourists prefer staying at Palakkad (58 km). Budget and mid-range accommodation are available in Palakkad. However, rooms are generally fully booked in Palakkad between October-March.

Chinnar

A unique thorny scrub forest with xerophyte species, Chinnar is the habitat for the endangered Giant Grizzled Squirrel of India. Their total number here would be less than 200. Located in the rain shadow area of the Western Ghats, unlike other sanctuaries in Kerala, Chinnar gets only less than two months of rain every year. Rich in wildlife, the mixed deciduous forests here are ideal for trekking.

An extensive Sandalwood forest nearby is an added attraction at Chinnar. This is also an ideal place for watching herds of gaur and elephants amble past. Dry deciduous forests, high sholas and some grasslands add to the diversity of the sanctuary. As one travels from Karimuthi to Chinnar, elephants, spotted deer, sambar, hanuman langur and even peacocks can be spotted on either side of the road.

This photo of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is courtesy of TripAdvisor Getting there:

This photo of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Nearest railway station: Ernakulam about 130 km from Munnar. .
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 150 km from Munnar.

Chinnar wild life sanctuary located in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats is the second habitat for the endangered Grizzled giant squirrel in India. The sanctuary has the unique throny scrub forest with xerophytic species.

he Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the rain shadow region of Western Ghats of Kerala, India., and represents a large number of plants and animals unique to the thorny vegetation.

Location: 77º 15’ and 77º 17 East Longitude and 10º 15 ‘ and 10º21’ North Latitude.

Area: 90.422 sq. km.

Year of formation: 1984(GO(P)229/84/AD/04.08.1984)

Climate: Temperature varies from 18ºC to 25ºC

Topography: Altitude ranging from 500 to 2400m . Major Peaks in the Sanctuary are Kottakombumalai (2144 m), Vellaikal
malai (1863 m) and Viriyoottu malai (1845m)

Rainfall: Average annual rainfall is 100mm.

Drainage:

Forest Types: The major portion of the area is covered with grass lands. There were also several patches of shoals.

Bio diversity: The major species in the throny scrub forests are Acacia arabica, Acacia leucofolia, Acacia concinna, Prosporis
juliflora, and Opuntia dillenii. Dry deciduous species include Santallum album, Anogeissus latifolia, Terminalia
arjuna, Tamarindus indica, Pongamia glabra, Dalbergia latifolia, Tectona grandis, Lagerstroemia laneolata, Cassia
fistula, Terminalia bellerica, Emblica officianalis etc. High shoal and wetland species include Rhododendron
nilagiricum, Elaeocarpus, recurvatus, Strobilanthus kunthianus etc.

34 species of mammals, 245 sp. of birds, 36 species of reptiles,

22 species of amphibians and 42 species of fishes are reported from the sanctuary

Elephant, Gaur, panther, spotted deer, Sambar, Grizzled giant squirrel, Hanuman monkey etc are the common mammals.

Approach: By Road – Kochi _ 200km

Coimbatore

Pollachi – 60 Km.

Nearest Railway Station: Pollachi- 60 Km.

Nearest Airport: Nedumbassery .

Accomodation : IB at Chinnar .

Dormitory at Chinnar

Best season to visit: October-November

Closure period: Open throughout the year

Special Attractions:

Contact Address:

1. Chief Wildlife Warden

Forest headquarters, Vazhuthacaud
Trivandrum – 695014
Phone – 0471 2321610, 2529300

Fax - 0471 2320554 Mobile:9447979007
E-mail – cww@forest.kerala.gov.in

2. The Wildlife Warden,

Eravikulam National Park
Munnar P.O, Idukki, Kerala, PIN - 685 612
Phone: 04865 231587 Mobile:9447979093
Email - ww-munnar@forest.kerala.gov.in

Hill Palace, Tripunithura

Location: 10 km from Ernakulam town, Central Kerala.

Visiting hours: 9.00 to 12.30 hrs and 14.00 to 16.30 hrs on all days except Mondays.

Highlights: Kerala's first heritage museum noted for royal collections of the erstwhile Maharaja of Kochi.

The Hill Palace, the official residence of the Kochi royal family, is today the largest archaeological museum in Kerala. Built in 1865, the palace complex consists of 49 buildings in the trational architectural style of Kerala, sprawled over 52 acres of beautifully landscaped terraced land which houses a deer park and facilities for horse riding. Numerous species of flora including rare medicinal plants grow here. On display in the full-fledged Ethno-archaeological museum are oil-paintings, murals, sculptures in stone and manuscripts, inscriptions, coins, belongings of the Kochi royal family and royal furniture including the simhasana (throne).

Also exhibited are over 200 antique pieces of pottery and ceramic vases from Japan and China, Kudakkallu (tomb stone), Thoppikkallu(hood stone), menhirs, granite, laterite memorials, rock-cut weapons from the Stone Age, wooden temple models, plaster cast models of objects from Mohenjodaro and Harappa of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The museum also houses a gallery of contemporary art.

Hill Palace Museum at Tripunithura, 12km southeast of Ernakulam en route to Kottayam, was formerly the residence of the Kochi royal family and is an impressive 49-building palace complex. It now houses the collections of the royal families, as well as 19th-century oil paintings, old coins, sculptures and paintings, and temple models. From Ernakulam catch the bus to Tripunithura from MG Rd or Shanmugham Rd, behind the Tourist Reception Centre (Rs5, 45 minutes); an autorickshaw should cost around Rs250 return with one-hour waiting time.
Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/kerala/central-kerala/sights/other/hill-palace-museum#ixzz2XogUaDdl