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Eravikulam National Park is home to the largest population of Nilgiri tahr, an endemic and vulnerable species of wild mountain goat found in the hilly terrains of South India.
In the 1950s and 60s, the population of Nilgiri tahrs dwindled to a mere hundred due to poaching. The stringent measures taken by the wildlife conservation projects in the park helped maintain their natural habitat, free from human intervention. Their number has now risen above 3000.
While it is a large park covering a whooping 9700 hectares, only a paved path of 1 mile (1.5 km) is open to the public. Sighting the tahr is by mere chance, however, being very friendly creatures of the wild, they approach you as if to greet you!
The park has strict policies in place against touching or feeding the tahrs.
Description of the experience:
The entrance to Eravikulam National Park is located at the base of the highest peak in South India, Anamudi Hills. From here, you will need to take a bus ride to the check post located 2.5 miles (4 km) up a slope.
I would recommend you book your tickets online on the park’s official website beforehand as only a limited number of visitors are allowed into the park per time slot. This is another measure taken to limit human intrusion.
At the check post, you will find an information center narrating the history of Eravikulam National Park and the role that this park plays in the conservation of the Nilgiri tahr. From here, you will need to cover the remaining one mile on foot.
In order to keep noise and exhaust pollution at bay, the park runs battery-operated cars to transport visitors with needs. You can hire them to travel the length of the public accessible area in the park.
The park is closed to visitors from February 1st to May 1st during the calving season of the tahrs as a special conservation measure to protect the newborns.
We visited the park in early May and a heavily pregnant Nilgiri Tahr approached us. She was unperturbed by our presence and happily grazed next to us. When she was content, she climbed up a steep hill with such prowess that we stood there watching in amazement.
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The entry fee for a foreign national to Eravikulam National Park is Rs. 500 ($ 5.99).

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