Located in Anaimalai or the mountains of the elephants, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is a wonderful preservation park.This is the largest sanctuary of Tamil Nadu and well preserved because of its wonderful wildlife population and inflow of tourists. Located in the hills and talukas of Coimbatore and Tirupur districts, this wildlife sanctuary is named after the once prime minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi. It is said that she visited the park in 1961.

History

Following a massive deforestation of the southern Ghats in the 1800s in the Anaimalai, where the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is located, this land needed to be revived. This is when parts of the Valparai Plateau here started being used for tea and coffee plantations. Later, some parts of these forests were preserved for timber plantations. These trees served the teak requirement of the Bombay Dockyard. By 1855, the area came under the purview of forest management and in 1974, it was identified as the Anaimalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Soon after, it was named Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. However, only in 2008 was the sanctuary undertaken under Project Tiger.

About the Sanctuary

Located around Palghat Gap, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of 958 sq. km. Rich in a vast variety of flora and fauna, the sanctuary works as a watershed. Therefore, it is integral to the agricultural and power industries of the region. A lot of tribal communities such as Kadar, Malasar and Malai Malasar also live here.

Apart from the many animal species found here, this park is also home to an immense variety of medicinal plants. With a rich population of floral and faunal species, this sanctuary has some varieties that belong to South Western Ghats. The sanctuary is home to more than 2000 plant species. There are more than 400 varieties of medicinal plants as well.

Species

For those who enjoy being in the midst of wildlife, this place has a lot to offer. There is a large variety of threatened species here such as the endangered Bengal tiger, Indian elephant and the Asiatic wild dog. Apart from that, you will also find species such as the Nilgiri tahr or the Lion-tailed macaque. Gaur, mongoose, langurs, Sambar Deer, sloth bear and otters are also found here. Some endangered species also exist here such as the Giant Squirrel, Leopard and Pangolin. Other animals found here are the golden jackal, Leopard cat, Barking Deer, Bonnet macaque and Asian Palm Civet.

There are more than 250 species of birds at the India Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, of which the popular ones include cormorants, ducks, teal, partridges, quails, parakeets and hornbills. Reptiles such as toads and interesting varieties of frogspythons and cobras are also found here. There is a wonderful variety of 315 butterflies found here.

How to Reach

By Road

One can take a bus from Pollachi to Topslip (35 km) to get to the sanctuary.

By Rail

The closest railway station to Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is Pollachi (35 km).

By Air

The nearest airport is at Coimbatore, which is 87 km away.

Visitor Information

IGWLS comes under the purview of the Wildlife Warden Office at Pollachi. It also falls within the administrative control of Coimbatore Forest Circle. The sanctuary has an extensive span for different topographies. The altitude allows for plenty of rainfall. Therefore, the sanctuary enables growth of a variety of plants and animals. One can find several rare, endemic and endangered species here.

Best Time to Visit

This place witnesses moderate warm climate round the year. Therefore, it is a wonderful destination that can be visited throughout the year. However, December to April is the ideal time to visit these places.

Other Attractions

Topslip is the place of first choice to most of the tourists visiting IGWS. It is the place for elephant rides and natural walks in the forests. Placed closed to the Karianshola a tropical rain forest, this place is home to tall trees and dense canopies. The Adjacent Medicinal Plants Conservation area (MPCA) is a favorite with visitors too. To the west lies Kerala’s Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. Together, all this makes Topslip a wonderful place for a visit.

There is an elephant camp at Chinnar, which is 25 km from Topslip and is a favorite destination for young visitors. Grassy swamps and teak plantations and the Seychalli valley are other interesting spots.

Enjoy visit the many resorts here to see extensive and beautiful tea plantations surrounded by evergreen deciduous forests.

A crocodile farm at Amaravathi dam is highly popular area. One of the four major crocodile farms in India, it is home to grizzled squirrels as well.

If you are one for water, visit Monkey Falls that lies on Pollachi-Valparai road. These are natural falls that offer fun to tourists.

Attakatti is about a trekking shed around the sanctuary that can be visited for its dry deciduous and moist deciduous forest tracks. It is home to elephants, tigers and Sambars.