Anamudi Shola National Park | 31 Jul 2025

Source: TH 

A road project through the Anamudi Shola National Park in Kerala's Idukki district has been stalled, impacting access to tribal settlements. 

Anamudi Shola National Park 

• Location & Geography: It is a biodiversity hotspot in the southern  Western Ghats designated as a National Park in 2003, and forms part of the Anamalai sub-cluster, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
  • It is surrounded by key protected areas such as: 
    • Eravikulam National Park 
    • Mathikettan Shola 
    • Pampadum Shola 
    • Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary 
    • Kurinjimala Sanctuary 
  • It is home to Anamudi (2,695 m) peak, (highest in South India),  and is crucial for watershed conservation, forming the catchment area for rivers like the Pambar and Chinnar. 
• Biodiversity: It supports rich biodiversity with high endemism.  
  • The park is home to diverse forest types, including: 
    • Southern Subtropical Hill Forests  
    • Southern Montane Wet Temperate Forests 
    • Moist Deciduous Forests 
  • A unique feature of the park is its dense shola forests, characterized by stunted trees and an abundant growth of lichens, mosses, and climbers.  
  • Fauna species: Leopard, Tiger, Indian Bison (Gaur), Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Marten, Sloth Bear, Giant Grizzled Squirrel, and Hanuman Langur. 
• Other National Parks in Kerala: 
  • Eravikulam National Park 
  • Mathikettan Shola National Park 
  • Pambadum Shola National Park 
  • Periyar National Park 
  • Silent Valley National Park