Indira
Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
Spread over
9.58 Sq.kms., this sanctuary can be reached through Topslip in Anamalai
Hills on the Western Ghats. An Ecological Paradise, this sanctuary
encompasses a National Park with an Orea of 108 Sq.km. Abutting Kerala on
the West, this hill forest boasts of thick growth of trees, folds of
terrains with evergreen sholas. About 800 species of South Indian flora
are distributed here.
Some of the many rare and endangered
species of flora are:
1. Combretum Ovalifolium, 2. Dispyros
nilagrica, 3. Gymnopteris Contaimirans (Fern), 4. Habebarai reriflora
(Orchid), 5. Polypodum pleroupus, 6. Alsophila sp, 7. Bulbophyllum sp., 8.
Lasianthus uenuloses, 9. Angiopterris Erectra, 10. Gnetum Ula, 11.
Impaliens Elegans, 12. Lycopodium cernum, 13. Ranunculus reniformis and
Osmunda Regulis.
This sanctuary nurtures Arboreal animals like
lion tailed macaque, bonnet macaque, Common Langur, Nilgiris Langur,
Malabar Giant squirrel and Grizzled giant Squirrel. The ground animals
listed are: Tiger, Panther, Elephant, Gaur, Pangolin, Sambar, Spotted
Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Wild Boar, Dhole, Sloth Bear, Porcupine,
Nilgiris Tahr, Civet Cat and Toddy Cat. The Avifauna includes Racket
Tailed Drongo, Black Headed Oriole, Paradise Flycatcher, Whistling Thrust,
Emerald Dove, Green Pigeon, Tickell's Flower Pecker, Rufus Wood Pecker,
Rose Ringed Parakeet, Black Eagle, Great Indian Malabar pied Horn Bill,
Fiary Blue Bird and green Billed Malkhoha etc.
OTHER ECO
- CENTRES :
Equally enticing in the sanctuary are Monkey
Falls at Aliyar, Crocodile breeding centre at Amaravathi, Gran Hills,
Attakatti, Nirar, Kullipatti, Manompally, Chinnar, Thirumoorthy,
Varagaliyar and Manjampathy. Trekking sheds available at Manjapally and
Varagaliyar. While a wild life interpretation Centre is at Aliyar, a
medicinal plant interpretation Centre is at Topslip.
OTHER
DETAILS :
Altitude: 340-2400 m.
Rainfall:
500-5000mm, South West and North East Monsoon; Climate: Pleasant, equable
warm climate Jan- Oct, Chill winter at high altitude: Nov- Dec; Best
season: May through January: Access: Pollachi 35 kms by rail and road,
Coimbatore 75 kms. by Air; Nearest Gasoline Station: Pollachi 35 kms. Time
to Visit: hrs. to 8.00hrs. & 17.00 hrs. to 19.00 hrs,; Accommodation:
Forest Guest House at Topslip, Varagaliyar, Amaravathi, Sethumadai PWD
Guest House with food at Udumalaipettai or Amaravathi EB Guest House at
Attakatti; Other facilities: Elephants and Vehicles on hire; available
Authority:
Wild life Warden, 178, Meenakarai Salai, Pollachi- 642 001. Phone: 25356
Indira
Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park | Mudumalai
Wildlife Sanctuary - National Park | Mukkurthi
National Park | Kalakkadu
Wildlife Sanctuary | Mundanthuri
| Point Calimere
Wildlife Sanctuary | Srivilliputhur
Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary | Guindy
National Park | Vallunadu
Black Buck Sanctuary | Vedanthangal
and Karikili Bird's Sanctuaries | Arignar
Anna Zoological Park, Chennai | Madras
Crocodile Bank Trust - Nemmeli | Viralimalai
| Gulf of Mannar
Marine National Park 
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