Chinnar
Wildlife Sanctuary
Located
at Devikulam taluk of
Idukki district Kerala,
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
is a well-known reserve
that extends over an
area of over 90 sq km.
Recognized as a wildlife
sanctuary in 1984; it
lies in the rain shadow
region of the Western
Ghats. As a result,
Chinnar gets only about
48 rainy days in a year
during the months of
October and November
when Northeast monsoons
are at work.
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Apart from being the
habitat of the endangered
giant grizzled squirrel
in India, the Chinnar
Wildlife Sanctuary is
home to tigers, elephant,
bonnet macaques, gaur,
Kraits, spotted deer,
spectacled cobras, sambar,
turtles, vipers, little
cormorants, darters
and black eagles. The
place is also ideal
for boating and trekking.
The
sanctuary abounds in
a variety of trees,
including the unique
thorny scrub forest
with Xerophytes species.
The flora of the sanctuary
comprises dry deciduous
forest, thorny scrub
forests, high shoals
and wet grasslands.
It is, indeed, a reservoir
of tranquil greenery
ensconced the verdant
valley. Among the species
of flora include Acacia
arabica (Karivelam),
Acacia leucofolia (Velvelam),
Santalum album (Chandanam),
Anogeissuslatifolia
(Mazhukanjiram), Elaeocarpus
recurvatus (Bhadraksham)
and Strobilanthus kunthianus
(Neelakurinji).
The
rippling topography
with breathtaking spectacle
of craggy rocks adds
to the scenic grandeur
of the sanctuary. Best
Season to visit the
sanctuary is from December
to April. As far as
accommodation is concerned,
private lodges are available
at Marayoor, Munnar
and Udumalpetta. You
can also find accommodation
in the government guesthouses
at Munnar and Udumalpetta.
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