Anaimalai National Park

History

Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, now known as The Anaimalai Wildlife Sanctuary, is located partly in Coimbatore district and partly in Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu. It became a Tiger Reserve in 1972, under the Wildlife Protection Act. Each year, it attracts thousands of tourists from all over India.

In mid-19th century, 1855 to be exact, the current area of the Park, was included in the forest management plan, with efforts from Douglas Hamilton and Dr. Cleghorn, senior officers of the then Tamil Nadu Government’s Forest Department. Gradually, the region was made a protected zone, and many years after, in 1974, the area was declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary. 

In the year 2008, the Park came under the umbrella of Project Tiger. Currently, its application for being considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is under review. The forest area of the Sanctuary, along with Palini Hills, forms the Anaimalai Conservation Area. 

Useful Information

Total area – 1479.87 sq km

Core area – 958.59 sq km

Elevation range – 2695 meters 

Latitude –

Longitude –

Nearest river – Apambar River, Neerar River, Chinnar River, Parambikulam River    

Nearby hills – Anaimalai Hills

Avg. annual rainfall – 1348 mm 

Flora of Anaimalai National Park

Indira Gandhi National Park constitutes of several forest types. One of the major types is the tropical evergreen. The vegetation of the Park also marks Southern Tropical dry and moist deciduous forests. Portions of the Park also have a forest type typical of Southern Bamboo category. Witnessing the broad spectrum of flora species in the Park would make you admire it more. 

There are more than an astounding 2000 species of plants, herbs and trees in the Park. Out of these 2000 species, 400 are known to be of medicinal importance. There are more than 100 species of orchids alone, in the Park. It is also an abode to several varieties of grasses, canes and ferns. 

The primary trees found in this area are Teak and Bamboo. You could also see here Reeds. Some exclusive varieties of Eucalyptus trees are in the Park, too. The natural environment of the Park has been beautifully conserved by the concerned authorities. There are several kinds of big trees and flowerings plants, adding to the overall charm of this lovely Park. 

Fauna of Anaimalai National Park

Like any other reputed National Park in India, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park also has a large variety of mammals and birds, peacefully residing within the designated periphery. The main attraction is obviously the Tiger. You could also spot panthers here. The Park is a home to huge Asiatic Elephants. You could watch sloth bears and wild bears here in you Anaimalai family packages. Wild dogs, jackals and civets could also be easily spotted. 

If you love to spot uncommon animal species, then this Park offers you perfect opportunities to do so in your Anaimalai sightseeing packages, as you can see here faunal species such as porcupines, pangolins and mongooses. 

The Park is one of the most prominent homes to Nilgiri Tahr in India. It is also a home to the Nilgiri Marten. Smaller animals such as the Bandicoot rats and Grey musk shrews could be spotted in the Park, too, when you avail Anaimalai tour packages. The water-bodies of the Park have otters. 

Besides a huge range of animal species, the Park is well-known for its several species of birds. Do you want to watch a whiskered bulbul, or a Malabar Hornbill, pecking on a tiny fruit atop a tree in your Anaimalai wildlife packages? If yes, then the Park is the perfect place for you to visit. You can also spot Peregrine Falcon here. If you are lucky, then you could spot the exotic avian species Jerdon’s Baza. Birds like Hill Mynas and Nilgiri Flycatchers are residents of this Park, too. You can photograph Spotted Doves, Malabar Whistling Thrushes, Painted Bush Quails, Dollar Birds and White-bellied Woodpeckers while availing Anaimalai adventure packages in this wonderful Park. 

Climate 

The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park or Anaimalai National Park has primarily tropical climate. There is not a huge variation in temperatures across the seasons, throughout the year. It means the summers are warm and winters are cool, with middle of the year receiving decent rainfalls. The level of humidity is usually low in dry months of December, January and February. 

The average annual temperature of the Park is about 27 degree Celsius. Hence, you would generally find it quite comfortable in touring the area at any time of the year. Summers do receive a good amount of rainfall. Winter months rarely receive any significant rains. 

The average precipitation in the Park is about 53.1 inches, annually. Summer and Monsoon months span from April till September. During these months, the level of humidity is pretty high in the Park, but the forests become greener. 

Best Time to Visit Anaimalai National Park

Panning a tour of the Anaimalai National Park is one of the exciting activities you would thoroughly enjoy, whether you go on a solo trip or visit the Park with family and friends availing Anaimalai holiday packages. 

The recommended time to visit the Park is the period between November and March. The months are usually dry during these months. You would feel comfortable exploring the various regions of the Park. But note that it is not guaranteed to spot a Tiger in your tour, irrespective of the month you choose for the expedition. Nevertheless, when you travel during these months, you would experience a much lesser lever of humidity. So, you would have a comfortable journey. 

There is no particular restriction to travel the Anaimalai Park in middle months of the year, comprising the summer and monsoon days, but, keep in mind that days are very humid, and it might seem tiresome for you to explore the various regions of the Park. Moreover, the rains would make it cumbersome for you to smoothly traverse through various trails in the jungle. 

When you tour the Park in December and January, there is a cent percent chance of witnessing different kinds of migratory birds, besides the usual fauna species. 

How to Reach Anaimalai National Park

When you are planning to reach the Anaimalai National Park, you need to keep all options open. There are some good, flexible ways to reach the Park, and you can opt for whichever way you like, suiting your needs. 

By Rail – You would love to reach the destination via railways, especially when you are fond of train travels. The nearest station to the Park is the Pollachi Rail Station. It is approximately 35 km away from the Park. You can hire a car from the station and reach the destination. 

By Road – Are you fond of long road-trips? If yes, then you can straightway drive to the Park on a rented vehicle, or on your own car or motorcycle. Nearest big metro city to the Park is Bangalore, which is about 459 km away. Chennai is approximately 623 km away from the Park. 

By Air – It is also possible to reach the Park by air, because Coimbatore is only 80 km away from the Park. After reaching the airport, you can easily rent a car. There are also private and public buses from the airport premises that you can choose. 

Connectivity & Distances

Distance from entry gate: Negligible

Railway station: Pollachi

Bus Stand: Pollachi Bus Stand 

Airport: Coimbatore Airport

Nearest city/town: Pollachi 

Places To Visit Near Anaimalai National Park

Exploring Anaimalai National Park would be incomplete if you don’t visit the exciting nearby places. You can rent a car for day in your Anaimalai National Park itinerary to visit some of the interesting places that are not far away from the Park. 

Azhiyar Dam – You can visit the place, considering it to be a decent break-spot. There is a beautiful garden here. It is located in Valparai foothills. 

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary – It is located in Kerala and you have to travel from Tamil Nadu to reach there. But it is merely 35 km away. It has the throne of being the first bird sanctuary in the state of Kerala, where you can conveniently visit in Anaimalai weekend tour packages. 

Seetharkund Viewpoint – It is regarded as one of the most ravishingly beautiful viewpoints, located in a Kerala locale, only 9.5 km away from the Park, where you can easily go on a weekend trip. The view of the panoramic vista of Mother Nature is breathtakingly fascinating from this spot. 

Pollachi – It is a small Tamil Nadu town, about 18 km away from the Park, famous for its lovely jiggery market, which you can visit on a weekend getaway tour.