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Silent Valley National Park

Silent Valley National Park

wildlife park · Kerala

Silent Valley National Park, in the Nilgiri Hills of Kerala's Palakkad district, protects one of India's last undisturbed tracts of tropical evergreen rainforest.

State
Kerala
Type
Wildlife Park

Silent Valley National Park, in the Nilgiri Hills of Kerala's Palakkad district, protects one of India's last undisturbed tracts of tropical evergreen rainforest. Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere, it is known for its endemic lion-tailed macaque, rich birdlife and river ecosystem, and is famous as the focus of a landmark environmental movement that saved it from a dam.

When to go

December to April is the best time to visit; the forest is wettest during the southwest monsoon.

Why visit

A hydro dam was going to flood this valley and a campaign stopped it in the early eighties. That fight is a large part of why Indian conservation looks the way it does. Entry is capped and permitted from Mukkali, and the lion-tailed macaques are what to look for.

Cultural notes

Silent Valley was saved in the 1980s when a proposed hydro-electric dam was abandoned after a famous public campaign.

How to reach

By Road: Entry is via Mukkali, from where forest-department vehicles go to the core; Mukkali is about 40 km from Mannarkkad. By Air and Train: Coimbatore and Palakkad are the nearest airport and railhead.

Silent Valley National Park guide & itineraries

Shopping

Palakkad and Mannarkkad nearby offer spices, coffee and Kerala handicrafts.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Silent Valley famous?

It protects one of India's last undisturbed rainforests and its endemic lion-tailed macaque, and became a symbol of conservation after a dam project was abandoned.

How do I visit the core of Silent Valley?

Access is controlled and by forest-department jeep with guides via Mukkali; permits should be arranged in advance.

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