The Annamalais or “Mountains of The Elephants”

The Annamalais lie in the High Ranges within the Western Ghats.The Annamalais rises to a series of plateaus.The Topslip-Parambikulam Plateau ( 800 m ) ascends to the Valparai Plateau,between 1,000 and 1250 m,in the heart of the plantations.The elevation range ensures an array of habitats. The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park extends over this region for approx 960 sq km, although this reserve lies in Tamilnadu, it is contiguous with Kerala’s Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary in the West and Eravikulam National park in the South. Inhabiting this dense forest and grassland are many endangered species such as the Nilgiri langur ,the lion tailed macaque and the nilgiri tahr,gaur and a fair number of elephants, leopard- cat, indian gaint squirrel, wild dogs, malabar grey hornbill etc.. December to April