Also Known as Eravikulam National Park, Idduki wildlife sanctuary is situated just 40 km away from the Thodupuzha. The sanctuary covers an area of 77 km and lies at an altitude of 450 to 748 meter and shares its boundary to the Thodupuzha and Udumpanchola taluks of Idukki districts. The famous Idukki reservoir, created by three dams- Cheruthoni, Idukki and Kulamavu, is located amidst the park and makes it an ideal hub for the wildlife. You can find herds of elephants, and gaurs around the crystalline lake, surrounded by the enchanting tropical semi-evergreen deciduous forests and two hills.
Idduki Wildlife sanctuary includes wide variety of vegetation in which 171 grass species and 143 species of orchids are important. Here you can explore especially Podocarpus Wallichianus and plantation of tea, cardamom, cloves, vanilla, ginger, turmeric, nutmeg, cumin, garlic, star anise.
If you want to see 35 endangered species of animals in their natural habitat, Idduki wildlife sanctuary is perfect place for you. The park compromises of elephants, gaurs, langurs, sambar deer and wild boars. You can find Nilgiri tahr in the higher rocky terrain where as lion tailed macaque, bonnet macaque, Malabar giant squirrel, flying squirrel, jungle cat, and sloth bear are confined to the interior of jungle.
Idduki wildlife sanctuary is regarded as paradise for bird waters. Here you can explore the beauty of several rarest of rare species of residential and migratory birds including hornbill, stork, woodpecker, kingfisher, raptor, darter, cormorant, grackle, cluster, woodpeckers, black bulbul, jungle fowls, laughing thrushes, mynas, kingfishers and pea fowls.
Apart from the mammals and avian life, the sanctuary also provides shelter to many species of reptiles such as king cobra, viper, krait, bi-colored frogs and crocodiles.
If you are lover of adventure in life then trekking and other adventurous sport can be experienced upon MangalaDevi hills, Mullakudy, Thannikudy, Vellimala hills, located amidst the Idduki wildlife sanctuary. |
