Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Location :Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu
Coverage area : 958 Sq.Kms
Main attraction : Porcupine, Elephant
Best time to visit :January to February
Nearby excursions : Parambikulam Tiger Reserve
Nearby cities :Coimbatore

Nature is believed to be the escape city dwellers take from the modernisation of the cities- it takes us back to simplicity, it takes us back to us, and this makes nature so beautiful and thus the surrounding where nature dwells and resides becomes beautiful so is the Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Every wildlife enthusiast knows places like the Kaziranga National Park, the Gir forest and Jim Corbett. While they tick off these places off their list, they are constantly looking for places which are less known so that they get the pure joy of exploring the wildlife. Among these places, comes a really unique tiger reserve- The Anamalai Tiger Reserve.

Setup in 1974, Anamalai Tiger Reserve is glorifying the South of India by providing a home to a variety of flora and fauna. Anamalai Wildlife Reserve gets its name from being a part of the famous Anamalai Hills, Tamil

Nadu. It is also known as the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary since the then Prime Minister had visited the sanctuary in 1987. In the year 1989, the areas of Karian Shola, Grass Hills and Manjampatti Valley were marked as a National Park. Out of the total area of 958 square kilometres, 108 square kilometres of the core area is reserved as a National Park and Tiger Reserve. The Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary falls under the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.

This region is travelled by many and yet stays unexplored. There are many fun and exciting activities to do in and around this area, right from safaris to wildlife photography, this area has a lot to offer. If you?re reading this, it means you?re already interested in Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, and this article will act as aid for you to travel and explore the symphony of the flora and fauna that dwells in this sanctuary.

Location of Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

The Sanctuary rests in the Anamalai Hills, in the Southern Western Ghats. The Sanctuary spreads in four talukas of Pollachi, Valparai of the Coimbatore district, Kodaikanal in Dindigul District, and Udumalpet of Tiruppur District in Tamil Nadu. The Anamalai Tiger Reserve has its headquarters situated in Pollachi. Geographically, it lies between the 76o and 77o E longitudes and 10o and 11o N latitudes.

Climatic conditions

The sanctuary is a mix of a deciduous forest, tropical wet evergreen and, tropical moist deciduous, which also means that the temperature ranges from 14-32 degree Celsius during March to February, and to a crisp 6-24 degree Celsius during the months of November to February, the temperature can go down to 0 degree Celsius in the higher elevations during winters. Considering the fact that this is primarily an Evergreen forest you should avoid the rainy months. The annual rainfall reaches up to 800 mm in this region. The streams keep the area cool, while the long trees provide shade in the scorching heat of the summers.

Best time to visitAnamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

If you aren?t looking forward to getting drenched in sweat or rainwater, then you should consider going to Anamalai in winters- it is the best time to visit the sanctuary and experience the nature at its best. The rains make the forest too muddy and slippery, while if you travel in the summers, then you are asking for a heatstroke to hit you up. The climate in the winter is pleasant and cold, and there are high chances for you to catch a sight of the animals in their natural and cosy habitat. It is best to avoid travelling in the months of June and August as it is the peak of monsoon, and if it doesn?t rain, it gets too warm and humid.

Distance of Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary from major cities:

Pollachi, 67 km
Coimbatore, 111 km
Palakkad, 113 km
Palani, 121 km
Tiruppur, 132 km
Munnar, 156 km
Kodaikanal, 184 km
Idukki, 191 km
Ooty, 218 km
Kochi, 233 km
Kozhikode, 239 km
Madurai, 241 km
Thodapuzha, 249 km
Tiruchirappalli, 278 km
Wayanad, 296 km
Kannur, 328 km
Trivandrum, 427 km
Bangalore, 460 km
Pondicherry, 475 km
Chennai, 603 km
Hyderabad, 1034 km
Mumbai, 1450 km
Kolkata, 2219 km
Delhi, 2600 km

How to reach the National park ?

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Airways

The closest Airport to Anamalai is the Coimbatore airport, which is approximately 111 km away. From the airport, there are taxis easily available which will take you to the Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary. It is better to book an Ola or an UBER since taxi drivers can charge higher than necessary.

Railways

The nearest railway station is Pollachi. From the railway station, you can get a taxi or bus to reach the sanctuary.

Roadways

The sanctuary is easily accessible via road. There are several public transportation services available like the private and public buses. You can always opt for private taxis and car services. Also, it is well connected to various cities nearby like Coimbatore, Pollachi, Palani, etc.

Accommodation facilities

You can stay at the Forest Rest Houses, i.e. dormitories provided by the Forest department. There are a number of hotels and resorts available in Palani and Pollachi. You can use apps like Airbnb to find decent accommodation according to your priorities, AirBnB?s are easy on the pocket too.
Some of the good resorts and hotels around the area are:

Kairali - The Ayurvedic Healing Village.
Vivanta Surya, Coimbatore
Welcome Hotel Coimbatore
iBis Coimbatore City Centre

Things to do

The Tiger Reserve has a lot to offer for its visitors. You can pack your backpack and trek through the hills of Anamalai. There are Elephant rides that take you through the jungle; it?s a fun activity to do with your family. Take your cameras out and capture the beauty of Anamalai Sanctuary through your lens. Take a forest ride into the jungle- you will be assisted by a driver who also acts as your guide. You can also do some bird watching and witness the harmony amongst these lovely creatures. You can also visit the Eco shop and buy some goodies.