Location:
90-Km From Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Area : 958-Sq-Kms
Recently Renamed As: Indira Gandhi
Wildlife Sanctuary
Best Time To Visit: January To February
And June
Anamalai
wildlife sanctuary is about 90-kms from Coimbatore and is situated at
an altitude of 1,400 meters in the Western Ghats near Pollachi. The
area of the sanctuary is 958-sq-kms. An ecological paradise, this
sanctuary encompasses a National Park. It has just recently been
renamed as Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary.
Fauna
It has various
kinds of fauna like Elephant, Gaur, Tiger, Panther, Sloth Bear, Deer,
Wild Bear, Wild Dog, Porcupine, Flying Squirrel, Jackal, Pangolin,
Civet Cat and birds like Rocket-tailed Drongo, Red Whiskered Bulbul,
Tree Pie, Black Headed Oriole, Spotted Dove, Pigeon, etc. The
Amaravati reservoir in the Anamalai has large number of crocodiles.
Attractions
At The Place
There are many
places of scenic beauty such as Karianshola, Grass hills, Anaikunthi
Shola, waterfalls, groves, teak forests, dams and reservoirs.
Arrangements are available at Top Slip to take tourists around the
sanctuary on elephant back or by van.
TOURIST
INFORMATION
The Park
Reception Office and most of the places to stay are at Top Slip, which
is 35-kms southwest of the town of Pollachi.
Entrance:
Tourists visiting the park for the day can go directly to Top Slip.
Tourists can also enter the park at Parambikulam in Kerala. The park
is open from 6.00 am to 6.00 pm for day visitors.
Private
vehicles can drive around in the park. Visitors can also hire one of
the park department's vehicles to go around the park between 8.00 am
and 5.00 pm (1 hr).
Tourists can
are allowed to walk in the park for a maximum of four hours, but a
guide is necessary.
HOW TO GET
THERE
Air: Peelamedu
airport is 10-km from Coimbatore city.
Rail: From
Pollachi, there are trains to Coimbatore and Dindigul.
Road: There are
regular buses from Coimbatore and Palani to Pollachi, which is the
nearest big town. There are two buses a day from Pollachi to the park,
at 6.00 am and 3.00 pm. The bus returns to Pollachi at 8.00 am and
6.00 pm. Tourists can also hire a taxi from Pollachi.
WHERE TO
STAY
Accommodation
is available at the lodges in Top Slip, which must be to be booked in
advance at the Wildlife Warden Office, 178 Meenkarai Road, in Pollachi.
Accommodation is usually limited to only one night. Ambuli Illam at
Top Slip, 2-km from the reception center is the best place to stay. It
also has a restaurant.
There are
several places to stay at Pollachi too.
