Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Gokulam Bike Hire ( 9447237165; per day ?250-300; 7.30am-7.30pm) , in the former bus stand
south of town, has motorbikes and scooters for hire. Call ahead.
Autorickshaws ply the hills around Munnar with bone-shuddering efficiency; they
charge up to ?700 for a full day's sightseeing.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
PARAMBIKULAM WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Possibly the most protected environment in South India - nestled behind three dams in a valley surrounded by
Keralan and Tamil Nadu sanctuaries - Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary ( www.parambikulam.org ; Indian/for-
eigner ?10/100, camera/video ?25/150; 7am-6pm last entry 4pm) constitutes 285 sq km of Kipling-storybook
scenery and wildlife-spotting goodness. Far less touristed than Periyar, it's home to elephants, bison, gaur, sloths,
sambar, crocodiles, tigers, panthers and some of the largest teak trees in Asia. The sanctuary is best avoided dur-
ing monsoon (June to August) and it sometimes closes in March and April.
Contact the Ecocare Centre ( 04253245025) in Anappady to arrange tours of the park, hikes (1-/2-day trek
from ?3000/6000, shorter treks from ?600) and stays on the reservoir's freshwater island (r ?5000). There are 150
beds in tree-top huts (?2500-3500) throughout the park; book through the Ecocare Centre. Boating or rafting
costs ?600 for one hour.
You have to enter the park from Pollachi (40km from Coimbatore and 49km from Palakkad) in Tamil Nadu.
There are two buses in either direction between Pollachi and Parambikulam via Annamalai daily (?17, 1½ hours).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Around Munnar
Eravikulam National Park
Sixteen kilometres from Munnar, Eravikulam National Park ( 04865231587; www.eravikulam.org ; In-
dian/foreigner ?15/200, camera/ video ?25/2000; 8am-5pm Mar-Dec) is home to the endangered, but al-
most tame, Nilgiri tahr (a type of mountain goat). From Munnar, an autorickshaw/taxi
costs around ?300/500 return; a government bus takes you the final 4km from the check-
point (?40).
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
About 10km past Marayoor and 60km northeast of Munnar, this wildlife sanctuary
( www.chinnar.org ; Indian/foreigner ?100/150, camera/video ?25/150; 7am-6pm) hosts deer, leopards, ele-
phants and the endangered grizzled giant squirrel. Trekking and tree house (s/d ?1000/1250) or
 
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