Silent Valley is different from other wildlife sanctuaries of India. There was a time when the name Silent Valley evoked strong and intense reactions in the 70's and 80's. It is situated in the Kundalli Hills of Palakkad district of Kerala, India. Compared to other national parks, it is smaller in area though in terms of wildlife, the place is second to none. The rich and varied biodiversity of the place makes it very significant for the researchers from all over.
The shape of Silent Valley National Park is rectangular which slopes down towards the south to the plains of Palakkad. The place is named the Silent Valley because the noise created by the cicadas is not present here. But, that doesn't mean that the place is silent as the richness of wildlife makes its presence felt through unique sounds all the time.
The Silent Valley National Park seems like a democratic society of the wildlife of India as the mammals found here are representative of all the mammals found in India. The other species also make their presence felt as there are over 100 species of butterflies and about 400 species of moths. The river Kunthi flows down through the whole valley and reaches the plains.
Best Time to Visit
The months of September through March are the best months to visit the Silent Valley National Park.
Climate
It rains heavily in the park and the thumb rule to follow in the silent valley is, higher the altitude of the place, greater the rainfall. The months from June to December are the rainy season which is caused by the south west monsoon. April and May are summer months whereas January and February are winter season.
Sightseeing
Parambikulam
It is a wildlife sanctuary which is generally known for its exotic birds. The important avifauna species found here are grey jungle fowl, Malabar grey hornbill, egret, heron, woodpecker, jungle myna etc. If you are lucky enough you can also get to see the rare birds like Ceylon frog mouth, rose billed roller etc.
Choolanur
It is a peacock sanctuary located at the distance of about 30 km from Palakkad town. There are about 200 peacocks here.
Activities
Trekking
You would not be allowed to trek after Sairandhiri, which is the site of a dam about 23 km away from Mukkali. After that you can trek only with special permission from the Conservator of Forests. The terrain is difficult for trekking but that's the challenge of it.
How to Reach?
The nearest airport is the Peelamamedu airport at Coimbatore which is about 155 km away. There are daily flights to the nearby major cities. The Olavakkode Railway Station at Palakkad is the nearest station and is about 75 km away. It is also well connected by road with the Silent Valley National Park. |
