Celebrating Wildlife Conservation High in Kerala’s Misty Hills

Eravikulam National Park is a breathtaking place. Situated near Munnar, high in the Kannan Devan Hills of the southern Western Ghats, it is a landscape of vast, rolling hills covered in green grass.  Thick, white mist floats over the peaks and the air feels cool against your skin.

The park was established in 1978 with the primary aim of conserving the Nilgiri tahr. These majestic mountain goats (locally known as ‘Varayadu’ in Malayalam, meaning cliff goat) are endemic to this region and, for centuries, large herds roamed across vast stretches of the Nilgiri Hills and the southern Western Ghats. However, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, hunting and habitat destruction led to a sharp decline in numbers. Today they are classed as an endangered species.

It is a familiar story, but the conservationists of Eravikulam National Park are reversing the trend. Thanks to their efforts, an estimated 750 individuals now live in the park and visitors often spot herds grazing on rolling grasslands, especially near Rajamalai. The Nilgiri tahr has become a symbol of Munnar’s natural heritage, a living symbol of the Western Ghats’ rich biodiversity and ecological resilience.

Our Kerala & The Magical Malabar Coast holidays include a visit to the Eravikulam National Park.