Exploring the Beautiful Silent Valley National Park in Kerala

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Amidst the blue mountains of Nilgiris, surrounded with ridges on all sides lies the Silent Valley national park in Palakkad, Kerala – about 50km from Coimbatore. A home to some of the rare flora and fauna, this national park can be visited all year round with the exception of Fridays and somewhere between March to May when the park is closed. The weather is always pleasant in here courtesy of the natural wall of ridges around it that protects it from extreme weather events.

What to Expect in Flora and Fauna

1. 110 species of plants with ayurvedic significance
2. Over 1000 species of flowering plants of which, over 100 species are of orchids
3. Over 400 species of moth and 200 species of butterflies
4. 128 species of beetles
5. Animals – Tiger, Panther, Leopard Cat, Sloth Bear, Small Travancore Flying Squirrel, Indian Pangolin, Porcupine, Wild Boar, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Elephant, Bush Frog, Nilgiri Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri Tahr, Peshwa’s Bat, etc.
6. Birds – Ceylon Frogmouth, Great Indian Hornbill, Nilgiri Blue Robin, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Nilgiri Laughing Thrush, Nilgiri Pipit, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Pale Harrier, Black-and-orange Flycatcher, Black Bulbul, Red Winged Crested Cuckoo, etc.
7. Flora – Cardamom, Black Pepper, Beans, Rice, Orchids, Ferns, Algae, Grasses, Asters, etc.

Top Things to Know About Silent Valley

• It is one of the oldest expanse of evergreen forests in the world spreading over about 237 sq. km. deemed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2012.
• It is a rich undisturbed hub of biodiversity with tropical weather, ideal for natural lovers and wildlife enthusiasts thus making it one of the top places to visit in Kerala.
• The largest population of the endangered species of primates – the lion-tailed macaques can be found here.
• Wildlife safaris are available here.
• The best time to visit in between October to March, although monsoons can make for an adventure as well.
• Visitors are allowed to enter only between 8am to 2pm and have to leave by 5 pm. It takes about 5 hours to finish the safari.
• The perennial river Kunti flows through here for 15 km, believed to have named after the Pandavas’ mother Kunti.
• It was named Silent Valley by the British in 1847 due to the absence of the common droning insects called cicadas and probably to anglicise the name Sairandhri. It was only declared a national park in 1984.

The section open to visitors is known as Sairandhri, another name for Draupadi, after whom this part is believed to have named for she lived with the Pandavas here briefly during their exile. There are other interesting sections of the national park that can only be accessed with permission from the forest authorities for a detailed guided tour and close-up with certain species of animals.

Silent Valley is 75km further from Palakkad district which is why many Kerala packages around this national park, include the transfers as well. Silent Valley’s wonder is something to be understood first hand only.

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