The Silent Valley National Park, one of Kerala’s best kept Secrets is a unique preserve of natural rain forests. Silent Valley is the rarest and precious protected area in the world. The journey to Silent Valley is a pilgrimage to nature.
The National park stretches over an area of 9000 hectors. The Kunthi River originating from Neelagiri flows silently through the valley. It drains the entire 15 Km length of the valley from north to south into the Bharathapuzha. Kuntipuzha is one of the less torrential rivers of the Western Ghats, with a pesticide-free catchment area.
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The area is locally known as “Sairandhrivanam” literally Sairandhri’s Forest (Sairandhri is Draupadi the wife of 5 Pandavas).
The park is completely enclosed by a ring of hills and hence Silent Valley has its own micro climate.
Silent Valley is one of the largest tracks of rainforest in Asia. It is an ideal destination for nature lovers, researchers and gutsy trekkers. View from watch tower at Sairandhiri is panoramic and the entire valley below appears to be a wavy green enormous carpet.
Entrance of Silent Valley National Park
The park is home to a staggering array of 1,000 species of flowering plants, 108 species of orchids, 100 ferns and fern allies, 200 liverworts, 75 lichens and about 200 algae, 128 species of butterflies and 35 species of reptiles, 34 species of mammals, 9 species of bats, rats and mice, 730 identified species of insects, 33 species of crickets and grasshoppers of which 1 is new, 39 species of true bugs (six new) and two species of Homoptera (both new), 128 species of beetles (10 new), 400 species of moths, At least 500 species of earthworms and leeches, 22 species of amphibians, 13 species of fishes, 138 species of birds including 17 species that were newly observed in the Silent Valley and many among them are endangered. Many of these are endemic to the Western Ghats. New species are discovered every year.
The lion-tailed macaque, one of the most endangered primates of India, is a huge draw at the park, where you can also see elephant, tiger, leopard, wild dogs, Flying Squirrel, Barking Deer, Sambhar deer, Gaur and Nilgiri Tahr etc.
There are lots of trekking trails inside the park but not all are easily accessible.
The Silent Valley forest remains one of the most undisturbed viable habitats left for the endemic and endangered primates lion-tailed macaque and Nilgiri Langur.
Climate
The mean annual temperature is 20.2 oC. In summer the temperature is 23 oC and in winter the temperature is 18 oC. Silent valley gets a high amount of rainfall during the mansoons. The rainfall is higher in higher altitudes. It gets rain during both the South-West mansoon and North-East Mansoon. It also gets some conventional rainfall due to its special geographic character. Because of the high rainfall the relative humidity is consistently high in June to December.
Silent Valley a night view
Attractions
- Lion Tailed Monkey
Silent Valley is home to the largest population of Lion-tailed Macaque, an endangered species. - Cobra Plant
Silent Valley is one of the few places in the world where it is found. It resembles snake, and it is endemic to silent valley. - Numonia Plant found only in Silent Valley and it is said that if you smell its leaf it is supposed to cure a maigrain.
- There is a watch tower in the heart of Silent Valley and no matter in which direction you look from the top of the tower you can only see green, a green carpet bellow your feet.
- Jeep ride through the park
- Nilgiri Tahr
- Sambhar
- Gaur
- Rare butterflies
- Trekking Facility
- Exotic Flora and Fauna
Travel Tips
- Visiting here is not as simple as we think! You need to get prior permission from the forest department in Mukali on paying entry fee.
- At Mannarghat there is a PWD Rest House for which the reservation authority is the District Collector, Palakkad. There are also many small lodges.
- You have to take a guide who knows the park very well with you.
- Always stay with the group.
- Smoking is prohibited in the park.
- Try to switch of your mobile.
- Keep quiet if you really want to improve your chances for seeing wild animals.
- Remember that animals are ultrasensitive to sound, odour and color. Clothing should be in neutral colours that blend with nature.
- Avoid heavy perfumes and deodorants.
- Liquor, loud music and littering are not allowed.
- Plastic carry bags and plastic bottles are not allowed inside the park. Stick to cloth bags or rucksacks.
- Take your camera along for some cool clicks.
- There is no other private lodging facility available anywhere nearby. Hence it is best to book / plan your accommodation in advance.
- Also one of the important facts to be remembered is about the LEECH (Atta in Malayalam) it would be in huge numbers from start of the forest. We should be very careful with them as they would easily get in to our foot and we may not feel their bite, but it will suck our blood without our knowledge and become a huge leech within seconds. To avoid this, visitors are instructed to apply Powdered Salts over their foot / legs. Leech proof socks and comfortable hiking boots would be a good option.
Watch tower at silent valley
Location
Silent Valley falls within the revenue districts of Palakkad and Malappuram within the 76º 24’ and 76º 29’ East Longitude and 11º 4’ and 11º 13’. North Latitude.
Accomodation
Inspection Bungalow at Mukkali – 2 Bed Rooms (4nos)
Large Rooms (2 Nos) – 7 beds
Hut (2 suited) – 1 no
Accommodation in suits and rooms will be available only on advance booking
How to Reach
By Air: Cochin (135KM), Coimbatore (55 KM) and Calicut (80KM).
By Rail: Palakkad Junction (Olavacode) – 58 km; Coimbatore – 90 km
By Road: Coimbatore – Anakkatty – Mukkali – 90km.
Coimbatore – Palakkad – Mannarkkad – Mukkali – 120km
Kozhikode – Palakkad – Mannarkkad – Mukkali – 120km
From Palakkad there are frequent buses to Mannarghat (45 kms.) Mannarghat is connected to Mukkali (22 kms) by bus. Silent Valley is 18 kms away from Mukkali which can be reached by Jeep or Truck. Jeeps and trucks are available for hire at Mannarghat.
River Kunthi at Silent Valley
Distance Chart
coming soon
Tourism Information offices
coming soon
Important Contact Details
- The Wildlife Warden
Silent Valley Division, Mannarkkad.P.O, Palakkad, Kerala, India.PIN: 678 582
Tel: 04924-222056,Mob:9447979104,
e-mail: ww-svnp@forest.kerala.gov.in - Assistant Wildlife Warden
Silent Valley National Park Range,
Mukkali, Palakkad
Kerala, India.PIN:678 582
Tel: 04924 – 253225
email: ro-mukkali@forest.kerala.gov.in
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