Mathikettan Shola National Park

Mathikettan Shola National Park protects 12.82 square kilometres of shola forest in Santhanpara village, Idukki district, between Eravikulam and Pampadum Shola. Travancore declared it a reserve forest in 1897, part of it was later leased for cardamom growing, and national park status followed on 21 November 2003. The name is said to come from Tamil for one whose mind is confused, because local people say walkers lose their way once inside.

The forest is especially important as an elephant corridor: herds coming from the Munnar side get hemmed in between Bodinayakkanur and Kottamalai by estates to the north and settlements to the south. Visitors can climb to two viewpoints, Njandaar Mettu and Uchilukuth Mettu, from which Tamil Nadu spreads out below. The park is reached from Poopara on the Munnar-Kumily road, where lodging is available.