National Parks of Kerala

A national park is a vast area of land protected by the Indian Government under the Category II of IUCN Protected Areas where human activities like forestry, poaching, hunting, grazing, cultivation, and other developmental activities are not permitted and are strictly reserved for the preservation of wildlife and biodiversity.

Private ownership rights are not allowed inside these parks. Their boundaries are well-demarcated and restricted.

All you need to know about the National Parks in Kerala like their locations, the year in which they were established, etc. are listed in this post for various psc exams.


National Parks of Kerala


There are 6 national parks in Kerala which are as follows :


NameDistrictYear of Formation
Eravikulam National ParkIdukki1978
Periyar National ParkIdukki &
Pathanamthitta		1982
Silent Valley National ParkPalakkad1984
Mathikettan Shola National ParkIdukki2003
Anamudi Shola National ParkIdukki2003
Pampadum Shola National ParkIdukki2004



Basic Facts


  • No. of National Parks in Kerala – 6.
  • First National Park of Kerala – Eravikulam.
  • Largest National Park in Kerala – Periyar National Park (Area: 305 km²).
    • for PSC – Eravikulam (Area: 97 km²).*
  • Smallest National Park of Kerala – Pambadum Shola.
  • Latest National Park in Kerala – Pambadum Shola.
  • District with most no. of National Parks – Idukki (5).


Eravikulam National Park


  • Location – Devikulam taluk (Idukki).
  • Area – 97 sq. km.
  • First National Park of Kerala.
  • Declared as national park in 1978.
  • National Park was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1975 (Eravikulam-Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary in 1975).
  • Also known as Rajamalai National Park.
  • Acquired by Kerala govt. from the Kannan Devan Hills Produce Company under the Kannan Devan Hill Produce (Resumption of lands) Act 1971.
  • Falls under the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
  • Highest Peak in Eravikulam National Park – Anamudi (2695 metres).
    • The highest peak in South India – Anamudi.
    • The highest peak south of the Himalayas – Anamudi.
  • Tourism Zone – Rajamala tourism zone.
  • Protected Species – Neelakurinji flowers, Nilgiri Tahr.
    • Neelakurinji – the flower that blooms once every twelve years.
      • Last bloom occurred in – 2018, next expected in 2030. 
    • The scientific name of Neelakurinji – Strobilanthes kunthiana.
    • The scientific name of Nilgiri Tahr – Nilgiritragus hylocrius.
  • Rivers – Chinnar & Pambar.
  • Waterfalls – Attukad Waterfalls, Chinnar Waterfalls, Lakkom Waterfalls, Nyayamakad Waterfalls.
  • UNESCO World Heritage site (2012).


Silent Valley National Park


  • Location – Nilgiri hills, Mannarcaud Taluk (Palakkad).
  • Second Largest National Park in Kerala (237 square kilometres).
  • Largest Rain forest in Kerala.
  • Established in – 1980.
  • Notified as Reserved Forest in 1914.
  • Declared as National Park in – 1984.
    • by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
  • Declared as Buffer Zone in –  June 11, 2007.
  • Core Area – 89.52 sq. km.
  • Buffer Zone – 148 sq. km.
  • The name 'Silent Valley' was suggested by – Robert Wright (1847).
  • Characterized by the absence of chirping cicadas.
  • Inaugurated by – Rajiv Gandhi (then Prime Minister,  September 7, 1985).
  • included in the core area of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in – September 1, 1986.
  • The highest peak in the Nilgiri Hills – Doddabetta (2,637 m).
  • The highest peak in Silent Valley National Park – Anginda Peak (2,383 m).
  • Protected Species – Lion-tailed macaque.
    • The scientific name of Lion-tailed macaque – Macaque silanus.
    • Presence of Lion-tailed macaque (mainly fruit eaters) is due to the presence of – Vediplavu (Cullenia exarillata).
  • Famous due to the total absence of chirping of – Cicadas (Hence the name "Silent Valley").
  • National Park referred to as 'Sairandhrivanam' in Mahabharatha.
  • National Park of Kerala where the only surviving evergreen forests in the Sahyadri is found.
  • The only river of Kerala that flows through the virgin forest of Silent Valley National Park for more than 20 km – Kunthipuzha.
    • Kunthi Puzha –
      • Location – Mannarkkad Taluk (Palakkad).
      • Least polluted river in Kerala.
      • Pathrakadavu Waterfalls.
      • Save Silent Valley Movement.
      • Boswellia serrata (കുന്തിരിക്കം) Trees.
      • River known for its medicinal qualities.
      • Pathrakadavu Hydroelectric Project of KSEB.
      • The tributary of Bharathapuzha that directly flows into it.
      • Flows from north to south through the entire length of Silent Valley National Park.
      • Tributaries – Karingathodu, Valiaparathodu, Madrimaranthodu,  Kunthancholapuzha & Kummaathanthodu. 
  • River originating from Silent Valley National Park – Thuthapuzha.
  • Tribal people – Irula, Kurumba, Muduga & Kattu Naiken.
  • UNESCO World Heritage site (2012).


Periyar National Park


  • Location – Cardamom Hills.
  • Largest National Park in Kerala.
  • Rivers flowing through Periyar National Park – Periyar (Periyar Tiger Reserve) & Pamba.
  • Protected Species – White Tigers.
  • Famous Tiger and Elephant reserve.


Anamudi Shola National Park


  • Location – Devikulam taluk (Idukki).
  • Area –  42.68 Sq. Km.
  • Declared as National Park in 2003.
  • Rivers – Pambar.
  • UNESCO World Heritage site (2012).



Mathikettan Shola


  • Location – Pooppara village, Udumbanchola Taluk (Idukki).
  • Area –  12.82 Sq. Km.
  • Part of Cardamom Hills Reserve.
  • Declared as Reserve Forest in 1897.
  • Declared as National Park in November 21, 2003.
  • The largest shola forest in Kerala – Mathikettan Shola.
  • Preservation of Shola forest and its elephant strip.
  • Rivers – Uchilikuthipuzha, Mathikettanpuzha & Njandar (tributaries of Panniyar).
  • UNESCO World Heritage site (2012).



Pampadum Shola


  • Location – Marayoor village (Idukki).
  • Area – 11.753 Sq. Km.
  • Smallest National Park in Kerala.
  • Declared as Reserve woodland by the Travancore Government in 1897.
  • Declared as National Park in 2003.
  • Tribal people – Muthuvan, Hill Pulaya.
  • Rivers – Pambar.
  • Flora – Pambadum Shola Orchid (Cymbidium wightii), Neelakurinji. 
  • UNESCO World Heritage site (2012).

* subjective to changes.


📝SideNotes:

  • Forest Conservation Rules were formulated in – 1972.
  • First National Park in India – Hailey National Park (1936).
  • Hailey National Park is later renamed as – Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand).
  • Largest National Park in India – Hemis National Park (Jammu & Kashmir, 4400 sq.km.).
  • Smallest National Park in India – South Button Island (Andaman Nicobar, 2 sq.km.).
  • The state animal of Tamil Nadu – Nilgiri Tahr.
    • Nickname of Nilgiri Tahr – Mountain Monarch.
  • District of Kerala which was devoid of any protected forest land until 2013 – Alappuzha.
    • Veeyapuram (approx. 15 acres) of Karthikappalli Taluk, near the tributaries of the rivers Pampa and Achancoil was declared as a reserve forest in the year 2013.
  • Smallest protected area in Kerala situated near Kochi – Mangalavanam.
  • Lungs of Kochi – Mangalavanam.
  • Dakshina Bhageerathi – Pamba.
  • River Baris – Pamba.

Thanks for reading!!!