Located 40 km from Mannarkkad, Silent valley is Extremely fragile, a unique preserve of tropical evergreen rain forests lying above the equator and the forest strip which causes the summer rains in Kerala. The Silent Valley National Park has an area of 90 sq km is located in the north eastern corner of the district. It rises abruptly to the Nilgiri Plateau in the north and overlooks the plains of Mannarkkad in the south.
Area: 89 sq km
Altitude: 658 - 2,383 metre above sea level
Rainfall: 1624.3 mm
Maximum Temperature: 39°C
Minimum Temperature: 20.4°C
Languages: Malayalam, English
Best Time to Visit: September to March
STD Code: 04924 (Mannarghat)
Silent Valley National Park:
Set up in the year1984, this park is located in the district of Palghat, spread over an area of 89.52 sq.km along the Kunthi river valley. Located 40 km from Mannarkkad, Silent valley is extremely fragile, a unique preserve of tropical evergreen rain forests, totally undisturbed, lying above the equator and the forest strip which causes the summer rains during June- July in Kerala. The local name for the park is Sairandhrivanam (the forest in the valley) which is also the last representative of tropical evergreen forests in India. The park which is remote has difficult terrain and is surrounded with Attappadi Reserve Forests in the east, and vested forests of the Palghat and Nilambur divisions in the west and south. In the North, the park is an extension of the Nilgiri Forests. The park which has never had human habitation is in the core area of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
The fauna here includes around 100 species of butterflies, 400 species of moths, Ceylon Frogmouth, Great Indian Hornbill, the Nilgiri Laughing Thrush, the giant Malabar squirrel, Nilgiri langur, the lion-tailed Macaque, elephant, tiger, leopard, wild bear, nilgai, sambar, pit viper etc. The parks best known primates, the Nilgiri Langur and Lion- tailed macaque are both listed in IUCN's Red List of Threatened Animals. A valuable reserve of rare plants and herbs including around 966 flowering and over 100 orchids plants are found along with the wide range of animals and birds. This park consist of 10 sq.kms of evergreen forests, 15 sq.kms of semi evergreen forests and 40 sq.kms of leaf shedding forests with a large variety of trees. There are very old trees in the park including a huge hollow tree which can hide at least 12 people in it.
Trekking: Visitors are allowed only up to Sairandhiri, the dam site 23km from Mukkali. There after trekkers need special permission from the Conservator of Forests; Northern Region; Palakkad, to venture on to one of the several trekking routes. The terrain is rough and one has to be vary of the leeches. The 7km trek from Sairandhiri to Poochappara 1376m above sea level takes around two hours.
Accommodation:
There is a Forest Department Rest House at Mukkali, headquarters of the forest Department nearly 23km from the park. (Ph: 0492-453225). There is a 40 bed dormitory (Rs.50 per bed), 3 bedrooms and a two room hut. There are private hotels in Amballoor.
How to reach there:
Air : The nearest airport is at Coimbatore (in neighbouring Tamilnadu State), about 55 km and at Kochi.
Rail : Thrissur (24km) and Coimbatore ( 55km ) are the nearest railway stations for reaching the park. Palghat or Palakkad (80km)is also a convenient rail head.
Road: Regular buses are available from Palakkad (80km) to Mukkali. Bus transport is only up to Mukkali, nearly 23 km from the park. The rest of the way has to be covered hiring a van or a jeep from Mukkali or on foot up to the source of Kunthi river, which flows through the valley before merging with the Bharathapuzha (Nila). Echippara is the headquarters of the sanctuary
