Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary

An oasis of greenery nestled in a valley between the Anamalai ranges of Tamil Nadu and the Nelliyampathy ranges the wildlife sanctuary is spread over 285 sq km on the Western Ghats.

The sanctuary offers an exotic experience to see rare fauna. A few hill tribes,like the Malayars, Kadas and Muthuvans live in the jungles here. The fauna 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,like teak, neem, sandalwood and rosewood. The oldest teak tree 'Kannimari' stands tall here.

Boat cruises are available in the reservoir here. Trekking needs permission from 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.

Parambikkulam is accessible by a road from Pollachi in Tamil Nadu. Palakkad-Pollachi is about 45 km by road and Pollachi-Parambikkulam is 65 km.