Encompassed in the Western Ghats in the Kundali Hills, the Silent Valley National Park, almost 40 km from Mannarkkad, well bordered by Palghat woods from west, Attappadi Reserve forests towards east and Nilambur in south, is one of the very few continuous forest strips remaining in the Western Ghats, that is untouched by man.Being a tropical evergreen forest, just because of its difficult terrain and remoteness, the extent of its degradation is very much less in comparison with other sanctuaries.Spread in an area of 236.74 sq.km, the park is a part of the Nilgiri International Biosphere Reserve, with the UNESCO giving it the ‘Western Ghats World Heritage Site’ title.

Having a great background, the Silent Valley National Park was earlier in dispute, due to the construction of the Hydel Power Project during 1970’s.After the strong protests of nature lovers and environmentalists, it turned to a National Park in 1984.

Also recognized as Sairandhrivanam locally, the Silent Valley National Park with its abundant tropical greenery, rolling slopes, hills and rivers, is a storehouse of extrinsic plants and wildlife including birds, animals, insects and reptiles. This is one of the best places for nature lovers who would never like to be disturbed.

Plant Life
Being a rain forest at a high altitude, here the vegetation can be classified in four types, as tropical green forests along the hills and valleys filled with extensive dense forests, sub tropical hill forests at higher points, temperate forests featuring the unrelated evergreen species having enclosed canopy, and lastly the grasslands found at the higher slopes and hilltops in the eastern sector.

The valley has a wide variety of flora, of which, most are native to the Western Ghats,including about 1000 species of flowering plants, 108 species of orchids, 100 fern and fern allies, 200 liverworts, 75 lichens and about 200 algae.

Animal Life
Apart from the diversified plant life, the Silent Valley National Park features a strong fauna population, including most of the endangered species residing here.One can find nearly 30 mammal species, along with the elephant, tiger, lion-tailed macaque, gaur, wild pig, Nilgiri langur, Malabar giant squirrel, sambar and panther.Apart from these, other species of wildlife that have been identified comprise 11 categories of snakes, 19 types of amphibians, 9 varieties of lizards, two fishes and two amphibians.

This park is also the home of nearly 150 kinds of birds, including include the rare ones like the Indian Black Crested Baza, Bonelli’s Hawk Eagle, Rufous Bellied Hawk eagle, Shaheen Falcon, Short-Eared Owl, Peninsular Scops-owl, Ceylon Frogmouth, Great Indian Hornbill, Nilgiri Laughing Thrush, house martin, and Malay Bittern etc.Out of these many families 31 are migrants.The most commonly found here is the black bulbul.

Till date, it is found that the no other human population apart from the Mudakar tribes living in the nearby valley of Attappady Reserve, is found in the Silent Valley.Not many accommodation facilities are provided for the tourists, there is a single rest house, where the guest can stay in the Silent Valley National Park.The nearest township of Palakkad features numerous hotels, guesthouses and cyber cafes, according to ones requirement, so that one can enjoy the quiet retreat of Silent Valley, even if they are slightly away.

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Category: Travel
Keywords: silent valley national park, silent valley wildlife sanctuary, national park in silent valley