Pambadum Shola National Park

In Malayalam the name Pambadum Shola means the forest in which a snake dances. Local chiefs and royalty once hunted in these hills of the Western Ghats, and the area was made a national park in 2003. It is run by the Kerala Forest Department, whose work here includes habitat restoration, patrols against poaching, community programmes and conservation education.

The park covers more than 1,200 hectares of dense forest mixed with grassland and streams. Its animals include the Nilgiri tahr, Indian giant squirrel and Nilgiri marten, and endemic birds such as the Nilgiri flycatcher and Malabar whistling thrush. Trails cross the park for trekking and birdwatching. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Cheeyappara Waterfalls and Kundala Lake are among the places nearby.