What to see, do and buy at Chinnar, Idduki

The Scents of Spice, Tea and Sandalwood and the Roar of a Waterfall...you are at Chinnar!

Located in Devikulam, Idukki district, Chinnar falls in the rainshadow region of the Western Ghats. Chinnar is watered by the perennial rivers of Chinnar and Pambar, two of the only 4 rivers in Kerala that flow eastwards. Nearby is central Kerala’s Elappara’s Tea Plantations at Semni and Haileyburia, Cardamom hills of Peermade, Nutmeg,cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla plantations at Haileyburia.

There’s also an entire Koodakavu sandalwood forest of Marayur where you can purchase sandalwood works of art created at the factory of the Forest Department and from where you can spot herds of bison. There’s a children’s park in the shade of a banyan tree.The sandalwood forest is also the site of Ezhutu Guha, rock paintings from ancient times.

On the way you can see ancient caves, rock art and shelters in Marayur and the ancient burial sites called dolmens from the Stone Age and Iron Age can still be seen on the banks of the river Pambar near an old Shiva Temple. At places like Kovilkadu are 10 paintings etched on rocks at the south west side overlooking river Pambar.

Travelling to Chinnar from Karimuthi, a peacock may cross your path, an elephant lumber by and deer race away, as the road from Munnar through Udumalpetta cuts right through the Chinnar Sanctuary which skirts Eravikulum Sanctuary.

The remarkable feature of this sanctuary is that unlike others, there are 11 tribal settlements within it in sanctioned sections where they grow their crops like maize and lemongrass and even the occasional ganja crop for religious purposes. There’s also an ancient rock painting of a deer and a man at Manala within the sanctuary area.

Moving from human settlements to the flora and fauna…

What You Glimpse in 90 sq.km of the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

·   The Green Life:

• Forest that moves dry thorn scrub to dry deciduous at lower heights to wet deciduous at elevated heights
•  Grassland meadows
• 1000 species of flowering plants like Acacia Arabica - Karivelam, Elaeocarpus recurvatus - Bhadraksham, Strobhilanthus kuntianus (Neelakurinji)
•  Medicinal garden
•  Rare Aibizia Lathamii tree

·   The Blue Life:   Thoovanam Falls which is the river Pambar diving into the river Chinnar right in the heart of the sanctuary.

·  The Winged Life::  225 bird species.

·   The Landlife:

• Reptiles like mugger croc
• Endangered Grizzled Giant Squirrel
•  Rare White Bison
•  Elephant
•  Tiger
• Langur
•  Sambar deer
• Spotted deer
•  Nilgiri Thar
• Vipers
• Krauts
• Cobras

What You Can Do:

• Treks to the river and to Alampatti’s ancient burial sites - dolmens
• Nature Trail to the Chinnar Watch Tower that offers a splendid view of neighbouring Tamil Nadu’s jungles and the Western Ghat’s rolling hills
• Trek and Camp at Vasyappar
• Boating

Entry Fees per day:

•  Indians: Adults – Rs.10/- Children – Rs.5/-
•  Foreigners: Adults-Rs. 100/-
•  Still Camera – Rs.25/- Video Cameras – Rs.150/-
• Light Vehicles – Rs.50/- 

When to Go to Chinnar: All months except monsoon months from October to December.

How to Reach:

• Via cities like Kochi and Coimbatore, latter is closer to Chinnar
• Kottayam Railway Station is closer than Ernakulum Station, Kochi but the closest are Aluva Railway Station in Kerala and Pollachi in Tamil Nadu which is barely 60km away
• Marayur town 

Contact Information:

Ecodevelopment Committee Office

Chinnar Check Post

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Marayur P.O. - 685620

·    

             Munnar is closest – 60 km away

Contact:

Forest Information Centre

Wildlife Warden’s Office

Munnar P.O. – 685612

Call: 04865-231587

Email:roywlw@chinnar.org

Accommodations:

 - Machans at Koottar, Champakkad, Karakkad

-  Tree house Call: 04865-231587 / Email:roywlw@chinnar.org

-     -    High-end Heritage Plantation Bungalows run as hotels by groups like Welcom @Rs.5000-Rs.7000 for single occupancy deluxe/Suite