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49-628: The sanctuary covers an area of 608.95 km (235.12 sq mi) in the Palani Hills of the Western Ghats and is located in Dindigul district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu . It was declared as a protected area in 2013 and spans across a diverse landscape with forests, grasslands, and various riverine ecosystems. The sanctuary was created to preserve the biodiversity and various species endemic to

98-946: A book called Kodaikanal Beauty in Wilderness , which has a list and map of local treks in the Kodaikanal area. Several trekking destinations are accessible from the Kodaikanal–Munnar Road . Permission from the Forest Department is necessary to visit areas deep inside the forests and for trekking in forests. Forest rest houses are available with advance reservation at Kodaikkanal, Poombarai , Kukkal , Kavunji, Berijam and Devadanapatty. Contact: District Forest officer, Kodaikkanal Forest Division, Kodaikanal, Dindigal District, Tamil Nadu, India. (open 10 am to 6 pm) Phone : 91-4542-240287 Kodaikanal Lake Kodaikanal Lake ( Tamil : கொடைக்கானல் ஏரி ), also known as Kodai Lake ,

147-399: A delicate Melastomataceae succulent herb endemic to Pambar Shola, Hoya wightii ssp. pulneyensis : a succulent vine with waxy flowers endemic to Pambar Shola', Plectranthus bourneate : a succulent herb endemic to Pambar Shola, Trichoglottis tenera : an epiphytic orchid. Pambar Shola is its major habitat, Phyllanthus chandrabosei : a shrub endemic to Pambar Shola, Huperzia sp.:

196-495: A fern ally endemic to Pambar Shola, Selaginella sp.: a delicate creeping fern endemic to Pambar Shola, Psydraxficiformis : a tree, until recently thought extinct, Utleria salicifolia : only one clump known on the Palni hills, Elaeocarpus blascoi : a tree believed extinct until this year, Cyathea crinita : tree fern, highly endangered (Botanical Survey of India), Aeschynanthus perrottetii : known only from one other shola in

245-485: A high of 35 °C (95 °F). During December to February it is between 8.1 and 18.6 °C (46.6 and 65.5 °F). In January, night temperatures sometimes drop below freezing, and thin ice is seen on lake edges in the early morning. The climate of the upper Palnis has four clearly defined seasons: The average annual rainfall is 1,617 millimetres (63.7 in), mostly during the north-east monsoon. Nomadic Paliyan tribes people have been seen living in some of

294-615: A proposal to the State government to protect much of the Palani Hills by declaring the area a wildlife sanctuary or a national park . The proposed park area includes only reserve forest land. These forests are already among the protected areas of Tamil Nadu . Their upgrade to Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park will increase their IUCN status from level VI - Protected Area with Sustainable Use of Natural Resources to IV - Habitat/Species Management Area or II - National Park and improve

343-488: A range of animal species such as Indian bison , leopard , sloth bear , Bengal tiger , Indian elephant , Nilgiri tahr , grizzled giant squirrel , and various species of deer, wild boar and reptiles. Avifauna include Nilgiri marten , blue-faced malkoha , stork-billed kingfisher , black-rumped flameback , white-browed bulbul , tawny-bellied babbler , pale-billed flowerpecker , honey buzzard , Indian eagle-owl , Malabar trogon , and Nilgiri flycatcher . The sanctuary

392-924: A six-day carnivore signs survey. A tigress and her cub were spotted playing in the wild. Forest Department officials are studying survey data to estimate the local tiger population based on indirect evidence like pug marks, scats and scratches. Amphibians and reptiles: Several little-known and endemic species of amphibians like Raorchestes dubois , Ghatixalus asterops , Micrixalus nigraventris , Indirana leptodactyla , Nyctibatrachus deccanensis and reptiles like Salea anamallayana , Hemidactylus anamallensis , Kaestlea palnica , Kaestlea travancorica , Ristella rurkii , Platyplectrurus madurensis , Teretrurus rhodogaster , Uropeltis pulneyensis , Uropeltis broughami , Uropeltis woodmasoni , Ahaetulla dispar , Boiga dightoni and Trimeresurus macrolepis occur in this sanctuary. Other more widespread species of herpetofauna also occur lower down. Plants: Moist areas exist along

441-693: Is 2,064 square kilometres (797 sq mi). These hills rise in steep escarpments to a high undulating plateau ranging from 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) to over 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) elevation. The western extremity of the park is contiguous with the Manjampatti Valley core area of the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park and with The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala . The Kurinjimala Sanctuary in Kerala borders

490-557: Is a manmade lake located in the Kodaikanal city in Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu , India . Sir Vere Henry Levinge, the then Collector of Madurai , was instrumental in creating the lake in 1863, amidst the Kodaikanal town which was developed by the British and early missionaries from USA. The lake is said to be Kodaikanal's most popular geographic landmark and tourist attraction. Over

539-538: Is currently in print: " The Flora of the Palni Hills, South India " by K.M. Matthew (1999), Tiruchirapalli, 3 vols., xcvi, 1880 p., figs., maps, $ 193 (set). ISBN   81-900539-3-0 . Contents: Kurinji flowers ( Strobilanthes kunthiana ) which blossom in spectacular fields of violet only once in 12 years are threatened. There is decreasing biodiversity , deforestation , grasslands destruction, monoculture tree plantations, and invasive exotic plant species in

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588-541: Is made up of hills 1,000-1,500 m (3,281-4,921 ft) high. It is also home to the main temple of Murugan , who is worshipped as a major deity in Tamil Nadu. The Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is a proposed protected area in Dindigul District , Tamil Nadu . The park will be an upgrade and expansion of the 736.87 km (284.51 sq mi) Palani Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary which

637-472: Is managed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department , with the primary goals of protecting the unique ecosystem, ensuring sustainable practices, and managing the natural resources. Conservation efforts include anti-poaching measures, awareness programs, and habitat restoration projects. The sanctuary offers limited access to tourism activities such as trekking, guided safaris, and bird watching. Some of

686-493: Is under developed for a long time. The Palani Hills Conservation Council, a non-governmental organization headquartered in Kodaikanal , was founded in 1985. In the early 1990s the Tamil Nadu Forest Department proposed to the Tamil Nadu state government that much of the range be granted protected status as a wildlife sanctuary or Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. The Palani Hills are formed of pre-Cambrian gneisses , charnockites and schists ; they are among

735-413: Is well connected by road with regular bus services operating to Madurai , Palani , Kodaikanal Road, Theni , Dindigul , Thiruchirapalli , Kumili , Munnar , Erode , Bangalore and Coimbatore . The lake is star-shaped, centrally located in the town of Kodaikanal and is surrounded by lush green hills of the northwestern Palani Hills range, which is the main watershed for the lake. An earthen dam

784-600: The Reunion Hotspot . The Palani hills are most prominent towards the west, ranging from 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) to 2,553 metres (8,376 ft) (5,906 ft - 8,376 ft). The ten most prominent peaks are: The hill station of Kodaikanal stands in a 2,195 m (7,202 ft) high basin at the southern edge of the central part. The eastern end of the park is made of hills 1000–1500 m (3,281 ft - 4,921 ft) high. The Tamil Nadu Department of Geology and Mining has completed detailed Geo-Technical Studies of

833-635: The Vaigai River and its upper tributaries, and the Kongunadu region to the north. The northern slopes are drained by the Shanmukha River, Nanganji River, and Kodavanar River, which are tributaries of the Kaveri River . The range lies mostly within Dindigul district , except in the western portion, where it forms the boundary between Dindigul district and Theni district to the south and Idukki District to

882-402: The Western Ghats ranges, which run parallel to the west coast of India. The Palani Hills adjoin with the high Anamalai range on the west and extend east into the plains of Tamil Nadu, covering an area of 2,068 square kilometres (798 sq mi). The highest part of the range is in the southwest, and reaches 1,800-2,500 metres (5,906-8,202 feet) elevation; the eastern extension of the range

931-497: The habitat and wildlife conservation of the area. The sanctuary has been under consideration of the Government of India in consultation with the Government of Tamil Nadu since 1999. The actual park boundaries have not been finalized. In 2007, proposals for declaration of Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary were under consideration of the Government. On 13 August 2012, in an apparent change away from plans for notification of parts of

980-450: The Kerala border in the west to the foothills in the east, average rainfall decreases and temperature increases. Compared to the Deccan plateau and the southwestern coastal plains, temperatures vary from moderate to quite cool. In the central Palani Hills at Kodaikanal, during March to May, the temperature range is between 10.1 and 20.9 °C (50.2 and 69.6 °F). The temperature can rise to

1029-607: The Palani Hills as a separate wildlife sanctuary, the Tamil Nadu Gazette notification attached parts of Kodaikanal and Dindigul divisions of reserve forests to the buffer zone of Annamalai Tiger Reserve . About 5155.42 hectares of forest land belonging to Palani Hills Northern Slope, Andipatty reserve forest, 4,344.53 acres in Kudraiyar block forest and 5,548.49 hectares in Mannavanur Range in Kodaikanal will be included in

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1078-721: The Palani Hills, between 250 and 1,000 m (820–3,281 ft), are part of the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests ecoregion . Above 1,000 m (3,281 ft), the deciduous forests transition to the evergreen South Western Ghats montane rain forests . In the highest portions of the range, above 2,000 m (6,562 ft), the montane rainforests give way to shola -grassland mosaic, made up of frost-tolerant montane grasslands interspersed with pockets of stunted shola forests. The hills extend into Kerala as Pampadum Shola National Park . The Palani Hills are currently subject to increasing development pressure as it

1127-496: The Palani Hills. The core of the proposed Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary awaiting government notification is located in this division. In 1988, the new 50 square kilometres (19 sq mi) Kodaikanal - Berijam Wildlife Sanctuary was included in the protected area proposals considered to be of national priority status by the Wildlife Institute of India . In the early 1990s, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department submitted

1176-455: The Palni Hills determining moderate to high landslide danger in much of the area. There are many waterfalls throughout the park which are popular tourist attractions. Some of the prominent falls associated with the park are: (Distances are referenced from km 0.0 at the bund (dam) on northeast end of Kodaikanal lake at .) The Palani Hills have a montane tropical monsoon climate which varies from west to east. Generally, as one proceeds from

1225-559: The Palni hills, Eulophia sp.: a new species for the Palni hills first collected in April 2000, Actinodapohne bourneae : Laurel tree believed extinct (Botanical Survey of India). Two trees found in Pambar Shola, Ceropegia thwaitesii : vine, vulnerable, endemic to Pambar shola, Pimpinella pulneyensis : scarce, Exacum anamallayannum : gentian , only one other known location in Palni hills. The comprehensive source on Palani Hills flora

1274-530: The Western Ghats region, which is recognised as one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. The vegetation consists of a mix of dry deciduous , evergreen forests , grasslands interspersed with sholas . The sanctuary is home to a wide variety of plant species, including many species endemic to this region such as Ceropegia thwaitesii , Sonerila pulneyensis , Hoya wightii , Plectanthus bourneate , and Aeschnanthus perrottetii . The sanctuary provides habitat to

1323-576: The Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park will stimulate or stifle commercial development and tourism. The decision to finally establish the park must balance short term financial benefits of the status quo versus long term stability of the natural and human community. Vandaravu peak is the highest peak in the Palani hills. The range lies between the Cumbum Valley on the south, which is drained by

1372-690: The ancient temple town of Palani ( பழநி in Tamil ) located at the northern base of the hills. In 1906, the great undulating plateau on top of the Palanis comprising four forest ranges were consolidated under the Indian Forest Act of 1878 and designated by the British Government as a single reserve forest, from Kodaikanal town to the Kerala state border in the west and the Bodinayakkanur town limits to

1421-467: The buffer zone. The villages and hamlets that now form part of the Palani Hills buffer zone are Poondi , Mannavanur , Kilavarai, Polur, Kavunchi, Kumbur , Kilanavayal , Kukkal , Pazhamputhur and Puthurpuram. The increasingly important economic role of Eco-tourism , including trekking, hiking , camping , mountaineering , rock climbing and bird watching may help the local populace to welcome this new Protected area. It remains to be seen whether

1470-399: The construction of group houses by the government in the early sixties. The community is vertically divided into two sub divisions called Koora and Kanni, further subdivided into 47 sub sects. Each sub sect is called Kootams, which regulates certain social events. Each kootam has its own deity, which is common to the entire group and once yearly the members of the same kootam assemble to worship

1519-601: The country. On the basis of studies carried out, 62 lakes including the Kodaikanal Lake in Tamil Nadu have been identified as polluted and degraded requiring conservation. Treatment and eco-restoration works for the Kodaikanal Lake were undertaken by the Government of Tamil Nadu with funds provided by the Govt. of India, under the above stated cost sharing formula, by the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) of

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1568-554: The deity. Many native tribals in the Palani Hills have partially assimilated modern culture but are marginalized on the fringes of society. Their social, economic and physical survival has become a difficult challenge for them and several public and private agencies. Their ancient culture in this area is well documented. Relics and artifacts of the Paliyan tribes people can be seen in the Shenbaganur Museum. The Palani hills are

1617-542: The easternmost part of the Western Ghats of India, which is one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots of the world. Some of the very rare and endangered plants and animals of India are found here. including intact relics of primary indigenous vegetation and a large number of non-native plants. The hills may be divided into four distinct vertical zones comprising distinct Ecoregions with a wide diversity of Endemic species . Mammals: Wild are common in areas away from human habitation and cultivation. Threatened species in

1666-599: The lake outlet. Kurinji ( Strobilanthes kunthiana ), a unique flowering plant is reported from the catchment area of the Lake. It is reported that this flower last bloomed in 2004 and that it blooms once in 12 years. Hill-plantain fruits and plums are popular in the area. The Lake has moderate to dense growth of macrophytes of all types. The littoral zone of the lake is reported to be rich in periphytic biota associated with macrophytes. Diatoms , protozoans and rotifers which are also associated with macrophytes are found in

1715-407: The lake. Many aquatic insect larvae and adults, molluscs , cladocerans and the fish Danio aequipinnatus , Rasbora , one spot barb, daniconius and Gambusia affinis are reported. Rainbow trout and common carp are the main fish found in the lake. The fish yield as per records was 5.3 kg/ha/year. Recently two new species of diatom was found in this lake. Human health risk assessment of

1764-644: The oldest mountain ranges in India. The park is an eastward extension of the Western Ghats hills formed by separation of the India-Madagascar-Seychelles blocks of East Gondwana in the Early Cretaceous period about 120 million years ago. It is surrounded to the north, east and south by the Deccan Plateau formed later in the massive Deccan Traps eruption 66 million years ago as India drifted over

1813-587: The park area include: Bengal tiger , Indian elephant , Indian leopard , gaur (wild ox), Nilgiri tahr and grizzled giant squirrel . Endangered Bengal tiger populations in the adjacent Project Tiger reserves of Anamalai Tiger Reserve and the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in the Agasthyamalai hills could expand back into this area when it is better protected. In February 2010, tigers were sighted in Kodaikanal forests during

1862-529: The park. There is sewage pollution , solid waste pollution and mercury contamination , and mercury pollution . There is also sound pollution , visual pollution , uncontrolled tourism , overdevelopment and lake eutrophication in and near Kodaikanal town. The Government of Tamil Nadu and several local NGO conservation groups are actively working to reduce some of these threats: A sum of Rs.1327.50 lakhs has been released for this purpose during 2006–2007. The Kodaikanal Division Forest Office offers

1911-512: The physico-chemical parameters of the lake water reveals that: The Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India has initiated a Centrally Sponsored Scheme called the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP), since June, 2001, on 70:30 cost sharing basis between the Central Government and the respective State Government, with the objective of restoring and conserving the polluted and degraded lakes in urban and semi urban areas in

1960-459: The popular spots in and around the sanctuary include Berijam Lake , silent valley view, and the pine forests. In 2017, a tree walk facility was proposed at the sanctuary to promote environmental education and allow visitors to learn about the sanctuary's flora in a guided setting. Palani Hills The Palani Hills are a mountain range in the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala . The Palani Hills are an eastward extension of

2009-469: The ravines and in the sheltered pockets of high elevation shola forests around 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). These sholas are often hotspots of endemic plant life. Notable among these is Pambar Shola. The Pambar Shola, draining to the Pambar River, is now reduced to less than 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) in circumference. It contains several rare and endemic plant species including: Sonerila pulneyensis :

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2058-625: The several caves in Manjampatti Valley . Paliyan people can be seen near Kukal Cave. The Tamil speaking Pulayan are referred to as the MalaPulayans, a group categorized as scheduled caste by State government of Tamil Nadu. Their traditional livelihood is foraging yams and small gaming in the nearby forest areas combined with cultivation of several species of minor millets in small plots located near their hamlets to meet their subsistence requirements. They live in small hamlets in huts and government constructed colonies. The sedentary life started with

2107-429: The south west. The hill station of Kodaikanal lies in the southern central portion of the range. Palani Hills joined with Anamalai Hills and Cardamom Hills at Anamudi peak in Kerala state. Vattavada in Kerala is a part of Palani hills. The Palni Hills are an eastward spur of the Western Ghats with a maximum east–west length of 65 kilometres (40 mi), and a north–south width of 40 kilometres (25 mi). Area

2156-489: The south, and given the name of the Ampthill Downs . It was over 140 square kilometres (53 sq mi) in extent and about one quarter of it then consisted of sholas and three quarters was open, rolling, grassy downs. The Ampthill Downs area is now named Upper Palani Shola Reserved Forest and totals 145.7 square kilometres (56.3 sq mi) (36,000 acres) of forest land. It is the largest reserve forest division in

2205-480: The southwestern corner of the park. These Wildlife Sanctuaries are adjacent to the recently established Eravikulam National Park . The park area includes only reserve forest land, including Palni Hills Northern Slope East, Kallar, Palni Hills Southern Slope East, Upper Palni Shola, Allinagaram, and Palni Hills Northern Slope West Reserve Forests in the Dindigul and Kodaikanal Forest Divisions. The lower elevations of

2254-490: The years a boat club, boathouse and boat service (with rowing boats and pedalling boats and a public ferry) for the public and tourists has become fully functional and is of aesthetic significance for tourism. Boat Pageant and Flower Shows are a regular feature in the summer season which attracts tourists. Bryant Park is situated adjacent to the lake. A railway line extended from Chennai to Tirunelveli with an intermediate station at Ammaianayakkanur (later renamed Kodai Road)

2303-518: Was built in 1875, to provide a gateway to Kodaikanal town and there on to the lake through a foot trek of 18 km from the railhead. The nearest railheads to the lake presently are the Kodai Road railway Station at 80 km and the Palani Railway station at 64 km distance, from the town. Madurai (at 121 km) and Coimbatore (at 135 km) airports are the closest to the Lake. Kodai Lake

2352-484: Was constructed to create the lake in a marshy where three streams flowed. The lake catchment experiences an average annual rainfall of 1650 mm. The climate is salubrious with summer temperatures of 19.8 °C (max) and 11.3 °C (min) and winter temperatures of 17.3 °C (max) and 8.3 °C (min). The out flow from the Lake forms the waterfall of 60 metres, called the Silver Cascade, 8 km downstream of

2401-403: Was to be established in 2008. The park includes about 36% of the 2,068 km (798 sq mi) in the Palani Hills . The park is located between latitude 10°7'–10°28' N and longitude 77°16'–77°46' E. Central location is 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) east northeast of Silver Cascade Waterfall and 4 km (2.5 mi) E X NE of Kodaikanal Lake . The Palani Hills derive their name from

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