SILENT VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
The core of Nilgiri Biosphere reserve, the silent valley national park is probably one of the magnificent gift of nature to mankind, a unique preserve of tropical rain forest in all its pristine glory with almost unbroken ecological history. Silent valley is closed on all sides with high and continuous ridges and steep escarpments, as a result the valley is shielded from extremes of climate as well as anthropogenic interventions so it remained an ecological island with a special micro climate. The river Kunthi descents from the Nilgiri Hills above an altitude of 2000 m and travels an entire length of the valley rushing down to the planes through a deep gorge.
OVERVIEW
Extend : Core area of 89.52 KMsq and buffer zone of 148 KMsq.
Location : Silent Valley falls within the revenue district of Palakkad Malappuram.
Access : Air : Kozhikode-140km, Coimbatore- 100km.
Rail : Palakkad- 58km, Coimbatore- 90km.
Road : Coimbatore- Anakkatti- Mukkali- 90km
Coimbatore- Palakkad- 120km
Mannatkad- Mukkali- 120km
Climate:
The climate is tropical with summer rains constituting the bulk of precipitation. Average minimum temperature varies from 23 degree to 29 degree. The hottest months are April and may when the mean temperature is 23 degree and coolest moths are January and February when the mean temperature is 18 degree. Annual average rainfall is 2717 to 4543 mm.
Topography:
The terrain is generally undulating with steep escarpments and many hillocks. The elevation ranges 900 M to 2,300 M above MSL with the highest peak at 2,383 M (Anginda Peak)
Vegetation:
The Silent Valley is virtually a botanist's treasure-trove. The flora of the valley include about 1000 species of flowering plants, 107 species of Orchids, 100 ferns of fern allies, 200 liverworts, 75 lichens and about 200 algae. Of these plants good majority is endemic to the Western Ghat's. Silent Valley Reserve Forest can be classified under four forest types via., 1. West-Coast tropical evergreen forest (600 - 1100 m ), 2. Southern subtropical broad leveled hill forest (1300 - 1800 m), 3. Southern montane wet temperature forest (above 1900 m) and 4. Grassland.
Wildlife:
National park is rich in faunal diversity and harbours 34 species of mammals, 293 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles, 22 species of amphibians, 13 species of fish's, 500 species of butterflies and moths, besides a multitude of lower forms of animals life most of which are yet to be documented. The valley has a fair representation of all peninsular mammals. They are Lion-Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Tiger, Leopard (Panther), Leopard Cat, Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat, Common Palm Civet, Brown Palm Civet,Ruddy Mongoose, Wild Dog, Sloth Bear, Otter, Flying Squirrel, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Indian Pangolin (Scaly Anteater), Porcupine, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Gaur and Elephant.
Best time to visit : December- April
The climate is tropical with summer rains constituting the bulk of precipitation. Average minimum temperature varies from 23 degree to 29 degree. The hottest months are April and may when the mean temperature is 23 degree and coolest moths are January and February when the mean temperature is 18 degree. Annual average rainfall is 2717 to 4543 mm.
Topography:
The terrain is generally undulating with steep escarpments and many hillocks. The elevation ranges 900 M to 2,300 M above MSL with the highest peak at 2,383 M (Anginda Peak)
Vegetation:
The Silent Valley is virtually a botanist's treasure-trove. The flora of the valley include about 1000 species of flowering plants, 107 species of Orchids, 100 ferns of fern allies, 200 liverworts, 75 lichens and about 200 algae. Of these plants good majority is endemic to the Western Ghat's. Silent Valley Reserve Forest can be classified under four forest types via., 1. West-Coast tropical evergreen forest (600 - 1100 m ), 2. Southern subtropical broad leveled hill forest (1300 - 1800 m), 3. Southern montane wet temperature forest (above 1900 m) and 4. Grassland.
Wildlife:
National park is rich in faunal diversity and harbours 34 species of mammals, 293 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles, 22 species of amphibians, 13 species of fish's, 500 species of butterflies and moths, besides a multitude of lower forms of animals life most of which are yet to be documented. The valley has a fair representation of all peninsular mammals. They are Lion-Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Tiger, Leopard (Panther), Leopard Cat, Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat, Common Palm Civet, Brown Palm Civet,Ruddy Mongoose, Wild Dog, Sloth Bear, Otter, Flying Squirrel, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Indian Pangolin (Scaly Anteater), Porcupine, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Gaur and Elephant.
Best time to visit : December- April
