Wildlife in Kerala | Famous Wildlife Sanctuaries & Parks in Kerala

The Western Ghats on its east and the Malabar Coast on its west, adorned with emerald backwaters and exotic spice plantations, Kerala is blessed with a riotous variety of flora and fauna. Topped up with indigenous traditional cultural practices and art forms, Kerala is increasingly gaining momentum as a popular tourist destination worldwide. The lush tropical evergreen rain forests, still largely miraculously unspoiled in Kerala, support a rich array of land, marine, and avian wildlife.

Wildlife Tours to Kerala

Vast nature reserves with an abundance of animals that you may only have seen in literature. Throughout Kerala’s length and breadth, The breathtaking wildlife getaways provide the ideal chance to bask in mother nature’s splendor. Kerala contains a variety of habitats, including tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous, mixed deciduous, and grasslands. The best way to explore Kerala’s woodlands and pristine wildlife safari options is by purchasing one of Indian Holidays’ Kerala wildlife vacation packages.

Here are the best wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala that will leave you mesmerized.

Periyar National Park, Kumily

Situated in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta in Kerala, Periyar National Park is notable as an elephant and tiger reserve in India. Often termed as Periyar wildlife sanctuary or Thekkady, the national park is home to various mammals like the Gaur, Indian Sambar, wild pig, Indian giant squirrel, sloth bear, Nilgiri langur, and Travancore flying squirrel. Read more…

Best time to visit – November to April.
Nearest railway station – Kottayam
Nearest airport – Madurai

Silent Valley National Park

The largest national park in the whole of Kerala, the Silent Valley National Park, is located in the hills of Nilgiri. The national park is home to the most significant population of the endangered Lion-tailed Macaque, and the national park is one of the last undisturbed tracts of South Western Ghats mountain rain forests in India. The national park is drained by the river Kuntipuzha from north to south.

Best time to visit: December to April.
Nearest railway station: Palakkad
Nearest airport: Coimbatore International Airport.

Eravikulam National Park

The best wildlife reserves in Kerala are found in, Eravikulam National Park which is renowned across the globe as the sacred refuge of the Tahr, an endangered goat-like creature that lives in the Western Ghats. The largest national park in India, Eravikulam, is located in Munnar and covers an area of 97 square kilometers. Anamudi peak, the tallest mountain in South India, is also located in the park. This national park in Kerala is a favorite destination for Munnar sightseeing because it is home to an abundance of flora and fauna.

Best Time to Visit: September to February
Nearest Railway Stations from Munnar: Kottayam Kottayam
Nearest Airports from Munnar: Cochin International Airport.

Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary

One of the naturally wealthiest areas of Kerala, the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, is at an altitude of 450–748 m above sea level. With a coverage area of 105 sq km, the wildlife sanctuary provides a habitat for various mammals, reptiles, and birds. It includes elephants, sambhar, and bison. Apart from this, poisonous snakes like cobra, viper, and krait can also be found here.

Best time to visit: December to April
Nearest railway station: Kottayam
Nearest airport: Madurai Airport

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary

Established in 1984, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the slopes of the western ghats. Home to varied wildlife, the sanctuary consists of 23 species of mammals such as Indian elephant, Sambar, barking deer, tiger, leopard, Gaur, and mouse deer. Amongst its list of birds, the place is a habitat for the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Malabar Pied Hornbill, and Ceylon Frogmouth.

Best time to visit – June to October.
Nearest railhead – Thalassery
Nearest airport – Karipur

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

The Great Grizzled Squirrel of India can be found at the Idukki Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary They are one of the world’s most endangered animals, with a population of less than 200. It experiences less than two months of rainfall annually thanks to its special location in the Western Ghats. The combination of wildlife and deciduous trees makes it the perfect location for trekkers.

Best time to visit: December-April
Nearest railhead: Aluva
Nearest airport: Nedumbassery

Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary

The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 128 sq km in the southeast corner of the western ghats. More than a hundred different animal species in this region in southern India need to be protected. The prime species include the Asian elephant, tiger, leopard, and King Cobra. Apart from the fauna, the sanctuary is a repository of medicinal herbs.

Best time to visit: October to March
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central
Nearest airport: Trivandrum Airport

Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary

Headquartered in the Peechi, Thrissur district of Kerala, the Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary is a treat for nature lovers. Established in 1958, this reserved area in Peechi is part of the Palapilii-Nelliyampathy forests. With a coverage area of 125 sq km, it forms the northern boundary of the Chimmini sanctuary. The diversified fauna of the place includes leopards, tigers, jungle cats, and Indian bison. Read more…

Best time to visit: October to March.
Nearest railhead: Thrissur Railway Station.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport.

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary

Built on the catchment of the Peppara Dam on the Karaman River near Thiruvananthapuram in India, the Peppara wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 53 sq km. Rich biodiversity, vast populations of mammals, and fantastic topography all describe the wildlife sanctuary at its best. Over the years, the sanctuary has become a major attraction for wildlife enthusiasts.

Best time to visit – October to March.
Nearest railway station – Thiruvananthapuram
Nearest airport – Thiruvananthapuram

Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary

The Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary has been built as a natural habitat for the Nilgiri Tahr and is located 15 km from Munnar. The sanctuary is blessed by a great variety of flora and fauna. The place is a must-visit for nature lovers with its rich vegetation of shrubs, herbs, and trees. Besides Nilgiri Tahr, one can even look for tigers, panthers, elephants, and deer in the region

Best time to visit – October to March.
The nearest airports are Coimbatore and Cochin

Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary

Settled under the core area of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve (one of the finest biosphere reserves in India), Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most important and notable tourist spots in Kollam. The sanctuary is well-known for its breathtaking beauty of lush forests and crystal clear streams. Acquiring an area of up to 171 square km, the main attraction of the sanctuary is a lion-tailed macaque, attracting visitors from all parts of the globe.

Best time to visit – October to March.
Nearest railway station: Kollam
Nearest airport: Trivandrum Airport

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 344.44 sq km. While the former part lies north of a district alongside Thirunelli, Muthanga is south of Wayanad, around 18 km from Sulthan Bathery. The rugged, wild charm attracts a crazy number of travelers from all around. This wildlife reserve is also close to Kerala’s Nagarhole Range of Karnataka and the Kurichiat Ranges.