Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, One of the Finest Wildlife Preservations in Kerala

This wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala is one of the top tourist destinations in Kerala. Its immense popularity is due to the rich flora and fauna, culture and scenic landscapes
. The sanctuary is situated in the northern side of Marayoor at a distance of about 18 km. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is placed at as height of about 500 to 2300 ft and is beautifully located in the Western Ghats amid the other three popular wildlife preservations of the region, namely Eravikulam National Park in the south, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary in the north and Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary in the east. The Chinnar wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of about 90 sq km and its chief source of water is the Pambar River and Chinaar River.  Apart from the rich flora and flora of this sanctuary, Thoovanam waterfall is another major attraction of this place, which is located close to Pambar River.  The sanctuary is one of the twelve wildlife sanctuaries in the state of Kerala. An interesting fact about the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is that it is under the consideration of UNESCO World Heritage Committee as a World Heritage Site.

Attractions

Flora: The sanctuary is mostly covered with grasslands and wet grasslands vegetation. Some of its parts also comprises of rain forests and high Shola at the higher elevations of the sanctuary. Around 965 species of flowering plants are found in this region. The Marayoor Sandalwood forest in the eastern edges of the sanctuary stands as one of the attractions of this place.  

Fauna: There are around 34 species of mammals found in this region including panthers, spotted deer, elephants, gaur, tigers, common langur, sambar deer and much more. It is also a home to the endangered species of Nilgiri Tahr. The sanctuary is also a perfect place for bird watching as around 245 species of birds are also found in this region. The sanctuary also holds about 52 species of reptiles among which 29 species are of snakes. Other common reptiles found in this sanctuary are Indian star tortoise and mugger crocodiles.

The Chinnar and Pambar Rivers of the sanctuary is a home to 42 species of fishes including garra mullya minnows, river crap baril, giant dino and the endangered species of Deccan mahseer.  About 156 species of butterflies have also been recorded in this sanctuary.

Dolmens: Apart from the flora and fauna, the dolmens of the sanctuary are also the major attraction of the sanctuary. A dolmen is a type of tomb, which generally consist of three or more upright stones that support a huge flat horizontal capstone. Most of these dolmens date back to the ancient Neolithic period. Some of these dolmens are set in groups of two to five dolmens and were used for the burial of a family.  Many clusters of dolmen are found in this area.

 Best Time to Visit

Though the sanctuary can be visited throughout the year, the best time to visit this place is from December to April.

Accommodation

The option for accommodation in this sanctuary is very few. The best option for accommodation would be Munnar, which is located at a distance of about 65 km from the sanctuary.  Munnar is dotted with many luxury and budget resorts along with home stays at some places.

How to Reach

By Road: The sanctuary is easily accessible through road from Munnar, which is located at a distance of about 65 km.

By Rail: The nearest railway station to this sanctuary is Ernakulam, which is located at distance of about 230 km. 

By Air: The nearest airport to this sanctuary is Cochin International Airport, which is located at a distance of about 204 km.