A pristine uninhabited valley in the Nilgiris biosphere of Palakkad district is the most ecologically assorted terrain on earth. In 2003, a frog genus of the Jurassic era was discovered in here. The endemic flora and fauna is not scattered and hence declared as a reserved forest. Though tribes like Kurumbar has been living in the adjacent Attapadi forest. Silent Valley was never inhabited. The official website of Silent Valley offers a very astonishing insight as the following, a number of species, which were available in the Western Ghats 50 to 100 years ago and which have not been recorded subsequently, still exist in Silent Valley. Wow!!!Which includes insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.Type specimens of these, described earlier by scientists, have been deposited in museums outside India. Even prototypes are not available in India for referral studies. Incredible!
Things to do in Silent Valley
Isolated and away from commercialisation and civilization, the tropical forest of Silent valley is a perfect destination for nature lovers and trekkers. Sairandiri as it is locally known has a major role in the epic Mahabharata. The Kunthipuzha which flows across can be best viewed from the hanging bridge across it. The trek trail offers interaction at the closest quarters with tuskers. However do not try to be that close to them. The sanctuary is the abode of the medium sized monkeys called the lion tailed macaque.Other animals include tigers, leopards, snakes, Malabar squirrel, Nilgiri langur, dazzling butterflies and the malabar laughing thrush. King Cobras are truly the kings of the silent valley.
Best time to visit Silent Valley
The monsoons from June to December receives average rainfall and the park experiences high humidity.The summers in April and May are the hottest while January and February are the coolest months. However December to April is considered as the best time to visit Silent valley.