Pampadum Shola National Park
#35
Among Things To Do in Idukki
Tags : National Park
Time Required : April - September
Entry Fee : For Indians – INR 65 per person
For Foreign nationals – INR 250 per person
Pampadum Shola National Park, Idukki Overview
Pampadum Shola National Park in Kerala is the state's smallest national park, at about 11.75 sq km, managed by the Kerala Department of Forests and Wildlife. Along with the Western Ghats and a few other parks, it's being considered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for World Heritage Site status. The park has cloudy weather for much of the year, which is good for trekking and picnics.
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Geography of Pambadum Shola National Park
The park has an undulating terrain with varied hill heights. The altitudes range between 1500 meters to 2500 meters, and a continuous patch of forest prevails from 1500 meters, up to 2000 meters. The area above that is mostly covered with grasslands.
Flora of Pambadum Shola National Park
Pampadum Shola National Park protects several species of flora. In all, the park has over 22 species of trees, 15 species of climbers and 22 species of herbs. The vegetation in general, mainly herbs are used for medicinal purposes. Along with tourists, the park has also attracted scientists to conduct various studies on the species of flora spotted in the forest.
Fauna of Pambadum Shola National Park
The highlighted feature of this national park is the highly endangered Nilgiri Marten – an exotic carnivore. Other common species include leopards, tigers, Indian wild dogs. Elephants, Nilgiri langurs, buffaloes, gaur, lion-tailed macaque, and many other animals can be randomly spotted from dusk till dawn. The national park houses 14 species of birds, 100 species of butterflies, and 93 species of moths. Some noteworthy birds found here include the white-bellied shortwing, Nilgiri wood-pigeon, vernal hanging parrot, blue capped rock thrush, black and orange flycatchers, and Nilgiri flycatcher. Reptile population in the park mainly includes cobra and pythons.
History of Pambadum Shola National Park
Pampadum Shola National Park was declared as a national park in 2003. Pampadum Shola National Park has an interesting story for its name. Pampadum Shola is a Malayalam word which translates to 'a forest where snakes dance'. Here, 'pamp' translates to a snake, 'aattam' refers to the dance performed by the snakes and 'shola' or 'cholai' translates to a forest.
Trekking in Pambadum Shola National Park
There are several trekking trails. Trekking timings are from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM and from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The duration for the trek is 3 hours.
Best Time To Visit Pambadum Shola National Park
Kerala is worth a visit during the summer and monsoon seasons between April to September. The weather is as pleasant as it can get, thus, making it the ideal time to visit the park. This is also the time you can participate in adventure treks, camps, and nature trails while spending the night in log cottages and camps.
How to Reach Pambadum Shola National Park
By air: The nearest airports are Cochin International Airport and Coimbatore International Airport in Tamil Nadu, about 170 km and 160 km respectively.
By railways: The nearest railway stations are Aluva and Udumalpet, about 180 km and 110 km respectively. Both are located in Tamil Nadu.
By road: You can hire a private or public vehicle or drive your vehicle to Pampadum Shola. The nearest town is Munnar, about 35 km away. You need to take the Kochi – Kodaikanal highway to reach the park.
By railways: The nearest railway stations are Aluva and Udumalpet, about 180 km and 110 km respectively. Both are located in Tamil Nadu.
By road: You can hire a private or public vehicle or drive your vehicle to Pampadum Shola. The nearest town is Munnar, about 35 km away. You need to take the Kochi – Kodaikanal highway to reach the park.
