Eravikulam National Park

Eravikulam National Park is a protected area in the Western Ghats of Kerala, established in 1978 as the state's first national park. It spans 97 square kilometers and is renowned for harboring the largest population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. The park also contains Anamudi, the highest peak in South India at 2,695 meters. Visitors explore the tourism zone via safari buses and guided treks through shola grasslands.

Visitors enter the Rajamala tourism zone via mandatory forest department safari buses from the base station. The journey offers views of tea plantations and waterfalls before reaching the upper grasslands. At the summit, visitors can walk along designated trails and viewing platforms to spot Nilgiri Tahrs grazing in their natural habitat. The area features rolling shola grasslands, misty landscapes, and panoramic views of Anamudi Peak. Basic facilities including toilets and a small cafe are available at the top.

The area was taken over by the Government of Kerala in 1971 and declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1975. It was elevated to national park status in 1978, becoming Kerala's first national park, primarily to protect the endangered Nilgiri Tahr.

The park is culturally significant for the Neelakurinji flower phenomenon, which blooms once every 12 years and carpets the hills in blue-purple hues, attracting significant cultural and tourist attention.