4/5 Praveen G. 6 years ago on Google • 646 reviews
Total
area
of
the
park
is
about
12.82
Km2.
It
was
declared
as
a
National
Park
in
the
year
of
2003.
The
park
is
home
to
beautiful
and
rare
animals
like
Panthers,
Elephants,
Giant
squirrel,
Flying
squirrels
and
Nilgiri
tahr.
There
are
various
types
of
medicinal
plants
(herbs),
of
which
studies
have
been
conducted.
The
park
is
a
biodiversity
hotspot
and
plays
a
vital
role
in
safeguarding
wildlife
in
the
region.
Watching
birds
and
wildlife
in
their
natural
habitat
is
a
popular
attraction
among
trekkers
in
the
national
park………….
National
park
is
an
area
which
is
strictly
reserved
for
the
betterment
of
the
wildlife
&
biodiversity,
and
where
activities
like
developmental,
forestry,
poaching,
hunting
and
grazing
on
cultivation
are
not
permitted.
Their
boundaries
are
well
marked
and
circumscribed.
Mathikettan
Shola
National
Park
is
a
beautiful
place,
located
in
the
Idukki
district
of
the
state
of
Kerala.
The
park
is
located
between
other
reserve
forests
like
Eravikulam
National
Park
and
Pampadam
Shola
National
Park.
It
was
declared
as
a
National
Park
in
the
year
of
2003.
Total
area
of
the
park
is
about
12.82
Km2.
The
park
was
part
of
the
Cardamom
Hill
Reserve
region
till
it
was
notified
as
a
national
park.
History
The
name
of
the
park
has
been
derived
from
a
Tamil
term
which
literally
refers
to
‘mind
confuser’.
It
has
been
so
named
as
the
paths
inside
the
forest
are
quite
confusing
according
to
the
local
folks.
The
local
people
attribute
its
name
to
the
fact
that
one
who
enters
the
dense
forests
in
the
Park
can
easily
get
lost.
The
region
was
declared
as
a
Reserve
Woodland
by
the
Travancore
Government
in
1897.
It
was
confirmed
a
National
Park
in
the
year
of
2003
to
defend
its
environmental,
faunal,
Mathikettan
region
is
portion
of
the
Cardamom
Hummock
Reserve
(CHR)
reported
in
the
Travancore
Government
journal
24th
August
1897,
in
which
the
region
was
created
as
a
Reserve
Woodland
underneath
section
18
of
Regulation
II
of
1068.
Before
2003,
a
part
of
the
land
was
under
lease
for
the
production
of
cardamom.
Certain
areas
in
the
Park
were
leased
out
for
cardamom
cultivation.
Geography
Mathikettan
Shola
National
Park
is
a
beautiful
place,
located
in
the
Idukki
district
of
the
state
of
Kerala.
It
is
located
between
other
reserve
forests
like
Eravikulam
National
Park
and
Pampadam
Shola
National
Park.
Total
area
of
the
park
is
about
12.82
Km2.
It
has
an
undulating
terrain
with
several
hillocks
of
varying
heights.
Undulating
terrain
with
hillocks
of
varying
heights,
where
a
misty
and
cloudy
climate
prevails
throughout
the
year,
where
a
wide
range
of
habitats
shelter
species
that
are
rare
and
endemic,
providing
a
wide
range
of
flora
and
fauna.
The
altitude
of
the
region
ranges
from
1200
to
1984
metres.
It
is
also
the
origin
of
several
perennial
streams
which
merges
with
Panniyar
River.
Rainfall
–
2000
to
2700
mm
Temperature:
Maximum:
40o
C
Minimum:
10o
C
Dominant
flora
Litsea
wighteana,
Chionanthus
ramiflorus,
Syzygium
gardneri,
Callophyllum
austro-indicum,
Bhesa
indica
etc.
Various
types
of
Orchids,
Ferns,
Lichen,
and
mosses
are
also
found
in
the
park.
Dominant
fauna
Mammals
–
Panthers,
Elephants,Giant
squirrels,
Jungle
Cat,
Wild
Dog,
Gaur,
Sambar,
Flying
Squirrels
and
Nilgiri
marten
etc.
Reptiles
–
Rock
Python,
Rat
snakes,
Vipers,
Cobras,
Turtles,
Lizards,etc.
Best
time
to
visit
The
best
time
of
the
year
to
visit
the
Mathikettan
Shola
National
Park
is
between
the
months
of
April
to
September.
FEES
Entrance
Fee
Indians
-
Rs.
23/-
Per
person
Foreigners
-
Rs.300/-
Per
person
Trekking
Fee
Indians
&
Foreigners
–
Rs.
500/-
Per
person
Camping
at
Amenity
centre
-
Rs.200/-
Per
person
Camping
at
Log
House
-
Rs.1500/-
for
2
Person
Camping
at
Choondal
Tribal
Hut
(
Grass
House)
Rs.
1500/-
for
2
Person
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