Tamil Nadu boasts of a diverse natural heritage whose variety and splendor cannot be expounded by mere words. The state’s prized possession, the Indira Gandhi Wildlife sanctuary and National Park bears testimony to Tamil Nadu’s rich collection of flora and fauna.

Tamil Nadu spans across an area of 1,30,058 sq km, out of which 17.6% is covered by dense forests. The natural vegetation of the pleasant and cool Western Ghats comprise of a lush mixture of moist deciduous, wet evergreen forests, sholas and grasslands. The state is also known to be the source of several medicinal herbs, cinchona, rubber and the exquisite kurinji flower.

Elephants, tigers, bisons, monkeys and deer occupy the dense jungle-clad hills of the idyllic green paradise. As a ramification a large number of wildlife reserves have sprung up in the hilly terrains of the Western Ghats. One such eminent sanctuary is the Annamalai or the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary.

Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park sprawls across an expanse of 958 sq. km. The sanctuary is accessible from Top slip in Anamalai Hills. It also encompasses a national park that occupies an area of 108 sq. km. The sanctuary is worthy of an artist’s pencil and portrays a resplendent image of nature at its best.

The sanctuary is a picture of ecological bliss. Arboreal animals like lion tailed macaque, bonnet macaque, common languor, Nilgiris langur, Malabar giant squirrel and grizzled giant squirrel reside in bliss with the terrestrial beasts like tiger, panther, elephant, gaur, pangolin, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, mouse deer, wild boar, dhole, sloth bear, porcupine, Nilgiris tahr, civet cat and taddy cat. The reserve is also a warm and inviting home to variegated species of birds like the racket tailed drongo, black headed oriole, paradise fly-catcher, whistling thrush, emerald dove, green pigeon, tickell's flower pecker, Rufus wood pecker, rose ringed parakeet, black eagle, great Indian Malabar pied hornbill, fiery blue bird and green billed malkhoha.

A visit to Tamil Nadu’s pride, Indira Gandhi Wildlife sanctuary and National Park opens upon a Pandora’s box of natural delights and gives tourists and excellent opportunities to explore the wilderness.

Last Updated on 1/17/2011

Wildlife Tours