Eravikulam National Park, at Rajamalai near Munnar in Kerala, protects the shola grasslands and the Nilgiri Tahr, a rare mountain goat that comes close to visitors here.
You enter on a set path with a government bus from the check post, and you book your ticket in advance on the official government site. The numbers each day are limited to protect the park, so book early. Once in about twelve years the hills turn blue with the Neelakurinji flower, and the park manages that season with care.
Who needs a ticket
You need a ticket for every person, Indian or foreign. You cannot drive your own car up to the grasslands. A government bus takes you from the check post at the park entrance to the start of the walking path. Foreigners pay a higher fee than Indians, so give the correct nationality when you book.
What you see, in plain words
From the bus you reach a gentle walking path through the shola grassland, with big views over the tea hills of Munnar. The star is the Nilgiri Tahr, which grazes near the path and is easy to see and photograph. You also see mountain birds, butterflies, and, in season, wildflowers. It is a short, easy, beautiful visit, not a long jungle safari, and it suits families.
The Neelakurinji closure
The Neelakurinji is a flower that blooms only about once in twelve years, and when it does, the Eravikulam hills turn a sea of blue and draw huge crowds. The park also closes a part of the year for the Nilgiri Tahr calving season, usually in the early months, to protect the newborns. So check the current opening on the official site, because the park has set closed periods.
How to book, step by step
Open the official Eravikulam National Park site, run by the government forest agency, and pick your date and slot. Add each visitor with identity details, and give the correct nationality. Pay online, then download your ticket. Reach the check post in good time, because the daily numbers are limited and the bus runs to a schedule. Carry the ticket and your original identity, because staff check them.
What it costs
Your cost is the entry ticket per person plus the bus charge, and foreigners pay a higher entry fee than Indians. The official site shows you the exact figures when you book. We do not print a fee we cannot see clearly on the official source, because these figures change. You will see the current amount before you pay.
Season and timings
The park is open for most of the year but closes for the Nilgiri Tahr calving season, usually in the early months, so check the current dates. The cool, clear months around the winter are lovely, and the monsoon brings mist and green. The park runs on set daily hours with limited numbers, so book ahead, especially on weekends and holidays.
Common mistakes to avoid
- The biggest trap is booking on a private look alike site that adds a fee. You book only on the official government site. The next is arriving without a booking on a busy day, when the daily numbers are already full. Do not plan a visit during the calving closure without checking the dates. Do not step off the set path, because it is a protected park.
Questions people ask
What is special about Eravikulam?
The Nilgiri Tahr, a rare mountain goat that grazes close to the path, in the shola grasslands above Munnar.
Where do I book?
On the official Eravikulam National Park site, run by the government forest agency.
Do foreigners pay more?
Yes, foreigners pay a higher entry fee than Indians.
What is the Neelakurinji?
A flower that blooms about once in twelve years and turns the hills blue, drawing huge crowds in its season.
Is the park ever closed?
Yes, it closes for the Nilgiri Tahr calving season, usually in the early months. Check the current dates.