Chinnar
Wildlife Sanctuary located in Kerala, South India is one of the
better-known wildlife sanctuaries located in Kerala, South India. This
entire wildlife park is covered with thorny scrub forests, wet
grasslands, shoals and dry deciduous forests that provide a natural
habitat for the Giant Grizzled Squirrel that has been declared as a
endangered species.
During
your wildlife tours from Karimuthi to Chinnar you get to watch wild
animals such as spotted deer, monkeys, elephants and peacocks roaming
freely on either side of the road. The Chinnar Wildlife Park got the
distinction of being declared as a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1984.
This wildlife sanctuary in Kerala, India is located close to the
Anamalai Wildlife in Sanctuary Tamil Nadu, south India and the
Eravikulam National Park in Kerala, South India.
Flora &
FaunaThe following species are found in the thorny scrub
forests: Acacia arabica (Karivelam), Acacia leucofolia (Velvelam),
Acacia concinna (Cheevaka), Prosopis juliflora (Prosopis), Opuntia
dillenii (Kallimul). Fauna consist of Elephant, Gaur, Panther, Spotted
deer, Sambar, Giant Grizzled Squirrel, Hanuman monkey, Rabbit etc.
inhabit the chinna forests. The Giant Grizzled Squirrel is an endangered
species. It is dull gray in colour.
The Chinnar sanctuary is
accessible by good roads from the Airports of Coimbatore and Kochi. The
nearest railway stations are Aluva(200 km) and Pollachi(60km) As you
travel along the road from Karimutti to Chinnar, you can spot elephant,
spotted deer, sambar, hanuman monkey and even peacocks on either side of
the road . This is a unique experience because generally one has to go
deep into the jungle to see wildlife as in the case of most other
sanctuaries.
AccessabilityMunnar - Chinnar : 62
kms
Cochin - Chinnar : 190 kms
Parambikulam - Chinnar (via
Pollachi) : 60 kms
Kottayam - Chinnar : 208 kms
Thekkady -
Chinnar : 172 kms
Idukki - Chinnar : 117 kms
Best
SeasonAlmost throughout the year except during October -
November.