Indira Gandhi National Park is situated in the Anaimalai Hills of Pollachi, Udumalpet taluks and
Valparai of Coimbatore and Tirupur District of Tamil Naidu.
About the park
The park is named after the ex-prime minister, late Indira Gandhi who visited the park in 1961. It is
also referred to as ‘Topslip’, which actually is a name of a hamlet situated in the north-east side of
the park. The park is a core part of the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and was deemed a national
park in 1989. The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and the park have been considered as a part of
the Western Ghats World Heritage spot by the UNESCO.
Wildlife
Several endangered species such as Bengal tiger, Indian Leopard, Brown Mongoose, Indian Giant
Squirrel, Lion-tailed macaque, Dhole, Indian Pangolin, Malabar Spiny Dormouse, etc. are found here.
Birds such as Cormorants, Partridge, Hawk Eagles, Kingfishers, Great Indian Hornbill, Indian
Peafowl, etc. can be sighted here.
Flora
Indira Gandhi National Park is covered with different vegetations which include montane shola-
grassland, wet evergreen forest, thorn forests, semi-evergreen forest, dry-deciduous, moist-
deciduous and marshes. Reeds, bamboo and teak are important plantations here.
General information
Accommodation can be availed at Top Slip with prior booking at the Wildlife Warden office at
Pollachi. Several hotels and lodges are also available at Pollachi and Coimbatore. For trekking,
permission has to be obtained from the Wildlife Warden.
Reaching there
The nearest railway station is at Pollachi which is about 35km away from the park. Pollachi is also
well connected with other parts of Tamil Naidu by regular bus services. From Pollachi one can hire
buses, jeeps or taxis to reach the park. Coimbatore airport is the nearest airport and is located
approximately 75 kms away from the park.
Tourist info
Indira Gandhi National Park, Anamalai R.F., Tamil Nadu
Best time to visit: December to April
Entry time: 6 am and 6 pm
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