Kerala ·
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, which includes the erstwhile Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, is in the Western Ghat mountain ranges. This tiger reserve is on the border of the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, in the southern part of India.
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary at a Glance
Why Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary?
The highlights, landmarks and experiences that make this destination worth visiting.
- Parambikulam Dam
- Solaiyar Dam
- Thunakkadavu Dam
- Sholayar Dam
- Peruvaripallam Dam
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary at a Glance
Essential travel information to understand Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary before planning your visit.
Can be combined with
Explore Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Places to Visit
- Parambikulam Dam: Parambikulam Dam is an embankment dam on the Parambikulam River, located in the Palakkad district in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India, ranks number one in India as well as in the top ten embankment dams in the world in volume in the year 2000.
- Solaiyar Dam: Solaiyar Dam, Upper Solaiyar Dam or Upper Sholayar Dam (Solaiyaaru) is located 20 km (12 mi) from Valparai, a hill station in the Anaimalai Hills of the Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu India.
- Thunakkadavu Dam: Thunakkadavu Dam is situated in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala across Thoonakkadavu River, which is a tributary of Parambikulam River, in Palakkad district of Kerala, India. It is part of the Parambikulam-Aliyar Irrigation Project.
- Sholayar Dam: Sholayar Dam is a concrete dam built across the Chalakkudi River in Malakkappara in Thrissur district, Kerala of India. The dam consists of main Sholayar Dam, Sholayar Flanking and Sholayar Saddle Dam.
- Peruvaripallam Dam: Peruvaripallam Dam is an earth-filled embankment dam on the Peruvaripallam River in Palakkad district of Kerala, India. The dam's reservoir is connected to the nearby Thunacadavu Reservoir to the south by an open cut channel.
- Sholayar: Sholayar is a place near Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala, about 19.7 km away.
Sightseeing Places
- Parambikulam Dam: Parambikulam Dam is an embankment dam on the Parambikulam River, located in the Palakkad district in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India, ranks number one in India as well as in the top ten embankment dams in the world in volume in the year 2000.
- Solaiyar Dam: Solaiyar Dam, Upper Solaiyar Dam or Upper Sholayar Dam (Solaiyaaru) is located 20 km (12 mi) from Valparai, a hill station in the Anaimalai Hills of the Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu India.
- Thunakkadavu Dam: Thunakkadavu Dam is situated in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala across Thoonakkadavu River, which is a tributary of Parambikulam River, in Palakkad district of Kerala, India. It is part of the Parambikulam-Aliyar Irrigation Project.
- Sholayar Dam: Sholayar Dam is a concrete dam built across the Chalakkudi River in Malakkappara in Thrissur district, Kerala of India. The dam consists of main Sholayar Dam, Sholayar Flanking and Sholayar Saddle Dam.
- Peruvaripallam Dam: Peruvaripallam Dam is an earth-filled embankment dam on the Peruvaripallam River in Palakkad district of Kerala, India. The dam's reservoir is connected to the nearby Thunacadavu Reservoir to the south by an open cut channel.
- Sholayar: Sholayar is a place near Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala, about 19.7 km away.
Places That Define Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Explore the most iconic landmarks and sacred sites.
Parambikulam Dam
Parambikulam Dam is an embankment dam on the Parambikulam River, located in the Palakkad district in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India, ranks number one in India as well as in the top ten embankment dams in the world in volume in the year 2000.
Solaiyar Dam
Solaiyar Dam, Upper Solaiyar Dam or Upper Sholayar Dam (Solaiyaaru) is located 20 km (12 mi) from Valparai, a hill station in the Anaimalai Hills of the Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu India.
Thunakkadavu Dam
Thunakkadavu Dam is situated in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala across Thoonakkadavu River, which is a tributary of Parambikulam River, in Palakkad district of Kerala, India. It is part of the Parambikulam-Aliyar Irrigation Project.
Sholayar Dam
Sholayar Dam is a concrete dam built across the Chalakkudi River in Malakkappara in Thrissur district, Kerala of India. The dam consists of main Sholayar Dam, Sholayar Flanking and Sholayar Saddle Dam.
Peruvaripallam Dam
Peruvaripallam Dam is an earth-filled embankment dam on the Peruvaripallam River in Palakkad district of Kerala, India. The dam's reservoir is connected to the nearby Thunacadavu Reservoir to the south by an open cut channel.
Sholayar
Half Day
Explore Destination on Map
Discover all sub-destinations, routes and detailed navigation information on an interactive map.
Explore Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary on Map
Open the destination map to discover attractions and routes.
Plan Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary Your Way
Plan Your Trip
Plan Your Way
- When to Visit: Climate-based guidance for choosing your dates.
- Getting Around: How to reach and move around.
- Budget & Practical Tips: Costs and safety notes from local guidebook sources.
How to Reach
- By Air: The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport (COK), about 42 km from Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary.
- By Train: The nearest railway station is Kollengode railway station, about 27 km from central Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary.
- By Road: There are only three bus trips to/ from Parambikulam on a daily basis. Two TNSTC buses start from Pollachi, and one KSRTC bus start from Palakkad.
Best Time to Visit
- Summer: Summer in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary (Apr, May, Jun) averages 22–28°C with about 230 mm of rain per month.
- Monsoon: Monsoon in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary (Jul, Aug, Sep) averages 21–26°C with about 400 mm of rain per month.
- Post-monsoon: Post-monsoon in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary (Oct, Nov) averages 21–27°C with about 155 mm of rain per month.
- Winter: Winter in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary (Dec, Jan, Feb) averages 19–28°C with about 26 mm of rain per month.
Weather
- Summer: Average highs of 28°C and lows of 22°C.
- Monsoon: Average highs of 26°C and lows of 21°C.
- Post-monsoon: Average highs of 27°C and lows of 21°C.
- Winter: Average highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C.
Travel Tips
- Staying safe: Do not tease wild animals and stay away from them. Beware of lone elephants and never attempt to tease them or take pictures as they may turn violent in no time.
- Getting around: For the day visitor, there are park-managed vehicles that takes a visitor on a park safari. Private vehicles are allowed inside the reserve only if they have a prior booking for an overnight stay.
- Fees and permits: The visiting time is from 7AM to 6PM. Entry fee for light vehicles is ₹50 and for heavy vehicles is ₹170.
- Climate: The area falls under intense monsoon showers, both south-west and north-east monsoon. The average annual rainfall is 1600 mm.
- Heat: Daytime highs reach about 32°C in April; carry water and plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning.
Local Transport
- By car: As there are only 2 buses per day, hiring taxis will be the viable option, if you want to cover both Topslip and Parambikulam on the same day. Though there are lot of tourist taxis from Pollachi, it may not be easy to get one during peak seasons or when film shootings happen around the town.
Suggested Itinerary
Choose the perfect duration for your Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary trip.
Spiritual & Religious
History
- Slug: history-of-parambikulam-wildlife-sanctuary
- Id: history-of-parambikulam-wildlife-sanctuary
- Summary: Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, which includes the erstwhile Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, is in the Western Ghat mountain ranges. This tiger reserve is on the border of the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, in the southern part of India.
Planning Guide
- Overview: Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, which includes the erstwhile Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, is in the Western Ghat mountain ranges. This tiger reserve is on the border of the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, in the southern part of India.
- Accommodation: Multiple options are available for stay inside the reserve, managed by the forest department. The website of the tiger reserve provides these details.
- Best Way To Explore: For the day visitor, there are park-managed vehicles that takes a visitor on a park safari. Private vehicles are allowed inside the reserve only if they have a prior booking for an overnight stay.
The Sacred Heart of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
A timeless journey of faith and devotion.
Significance
The tiger reserve has remnants of the Cochin State Forest Tramway, which was used to ship wood from the Parambikulam forests to the nearby harbor at Kochi, and from there to different locations of the world.
Conservation Significance
The tiger reserve has remnants of the Cochin State Forest Tramway, which was used to ship wood from the Parambikulam forests to the nearby harbor at Kochi, and from there to different locations of the world.
Ecological Importance
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is 89 km from Palakkad and 44 km from Pollachi, adjacent to Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu. Although Parambikulam belongs to the state of Kerala, it is accessible only via Pollachi in Tamil Nadu.
Route Explorer
Frequently Asked Questions
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is most comfortable in January, February, March, April and November, when average daytime highs stay at or below 32°C and rainfall is low. The hottest month is April (average high 32°C) and the wettest months are May, June, July, August, September and October.
The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport (COK), about 42 km away. The nearest railway station is Kollengode railway station, about 27 km away. See the How to Reach page for road, rail and air details.
Main attractions include Parambikulam Dam, Solaiyar Dam, Thunakkadavu Dam, Sholayar Dam and Peruvaripallam Dam.
A stay of 1 day covers the main sights. Ready-made 1-day and 2-day itineraries are linked on this page.
Average highs range from 25°C to 32°C over the year, with about 2300 mm of rain in total.
Taxi to Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Outstation cabs with fares for every vehicle — sedan, SUV and Tempo Traveller.
Tour Packages for Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
EXPLORE PARAMBIKULAM WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Plan My Trip: Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Tell us your trip and we'll call you back with a complete plan: cab, hotel and sightseeing.
Your Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary Journey Starts Here
Explore top attractions, local culture, and the experiences that make this destination worth visiting.