Mathikettan Shola National Park

Kerala is a state located in the south-west region of India on the Malabar Coast. It is bordered by Karnataka to the north and north east, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and the Laccadive Sea to the west. Thiruvananthapuram is the state capital among the 14 districts; other major cities include Kochi, Kozhikode, Kollam and Thrissur. Its culture and traditions, coupled with its varied demographics, have made Kerala one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. National Geographic s Traveller magazine names Kerala as one of the "ten paradises of the world" and "50 must see destinations of a lifetime". Kerala s ecotourism destinations include nine wildlife sanctuaries and five national parks: Periyar Tiger Reserve, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, and Eravikulam National Park are the most popular among them. So today, let us have a look at the Beautiful and evergreen Mathikettan Shola National Park.

Mathikettan Shola National Park is the national Park located in the Poopara Village, Idukki District in Kerala. The name Mathikettan of Mathikettan National Park originates from the Tamil word, which literally means ‘mind confuser’. It covers an area of about 12.82 sq.km. Mathikettan is an idealistic venue for conservation education. The Mathikettan National Park is situated near by other National Parks like Eravikulam and Pampadum Shola National Park. Mathikettan Shola was advised as a National Park to protect the wildlife and rich biodiversity of the area.

Location

Mathikettan Shola National park, spreading over an area of 12.82 sq.km, is a National Park in Pooppara Village, Udumbanchola Tauk, Idukki district of Kerala.  It is situated at a distance of 130 km from Madurai city.

Mathikettan is a Tamil word which means ‘mind confuser’. The local people attribute its name to the fact that one who enters the dense forests in the Park can easily get lost. Thus the forests that confuse human mind came to known as Mathikettan forests!

History

Prior to independence, the area was declared as Reserve Forest under Travancore Government since 1897. However, certain areas in the Park were leased out for cardamom cultivation. It was in the year 2003 that it gained the status of a National Park.

Major attractions

The region’s unique topographical features make it an ideal haven for adventure enthusiasts and more so for trekkers. No wonder, many trekking expeditions take place in the region. Apart from enabling you to spot wildlife, these trekking trails take you deep into the forest providing mesmerizing views of its greenery.

The region is as much a favorite for photography lovers too. They are found to stay in the park for certain periods to capture its wilderness as convincingly as possible on lens.

Flora & Fauna

Being located in a biodiversity hotspot, the National Park does the significant job of preserving its precious wild life. One of the advantages of having a difficult terrain is that it serves as defense mechanism to protect the habitat of its native wildlife. Animals like panthers, wild elephants, spotted deer, Nilgiri tahrs and giant grizzled squirrels are widely reported in its premises. Among reptiles, species like rat snakes, crocodiles, vipers, cobras, turtles, lizards and pythons inhabit the park.

The vegetation found in the National Park comes under the following categories:

Grasslands
Moist deciduous forests
West coast tropical evergreen forests
Shola forests
West coast semi evergreen forests
Trees like Chionanthus ramiflorus , Bhesa indica, , Litsea wighteana,  Callophyllum austro-indicum and Syzygium gardneri  are found in abundance.  There is also huge diversity of other plant life like orchids, ferns, mosses, aroides and lichen.

 Climate

During summer months, mercury levels can go as high as 40 degree Celsius. While in winter, the temperature goes as low as 10 degree Celsius. The National Park receives an annual rainfall of 2250-2500 mm.

When to visit

You may visit the park during any time of the year. It is still recommended to visit the Park during October-April.

Where to stay

Although there are not accommodation facilities inside the Park premises, you can easily find guest houses or camp sites in the Pooppara village. Or else, Madurai city offers wide range of options for accommodation that suit all pockets.

How to reach

By air: The nearby airports are Cochin International Airport and Madurai Airport.

By rail: Kottayam railway station is the nearest railway station.

By road: Mathikettan Shola National Park can be accessed while travelling on Kothamangalam-Idukki route or Munnar-Kumily highway.