Few more information about SILENT VALLY...

[partha sarathy]

Details are as follows:

 

1) Entry fees per head - Rs. 25/-

2) Vehicles - Jeep/Swaraj Mazda/ - Rs 50/-  (Note: Big vehicles and Cars wont be able to go through the 23 km stretch to silent valley 

                                                                       from Mukkali)

                   Mini Bus                 - Rs 200/-

3) Guide                                    - Rs 150/-

4) Camera                                 - Rs 25/- each

5) Contact person: Mr Achudan/ 04924 - 253225

 

 

Mit freundlichen Grüßen/Best Regards,

Jayesh Chettoor

Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Limited

  (: +91(422)-663-4406

 

Two routes to take from, we will prefer the 1st route...

 

Coimbatore – Anakkatty – Mukkali – 90 km

Coimbatore – Palakkad – Mannarkkad – Mukkali – 120 km

 

From Mukkali the Silent valley begins. We have to get permission from there and hire a guide who help us zero in to our destination….

 

 

 

Mit freundlichen Grüßen/Best Regards,

Jayesh Chettoor

Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Limited

  (: +91(422)-663-4406

 

History

Silent Valley is considered one of the most ecologically diverse areas on the planet. In the 1950s, the Kerala State Electricity Board wanted to build a dam across the Kunti river, which flowed in the deep forest. Nationwide protests in India by environmentalists and mass publicity by the media led the then prime minister, Indira Gandhi to order the state government to abolish the hydro electric project. The area was declared a National Park.

The park is actually named Indira Gandhi National Park, and Silent Valley is the name of the place, but it is also called Silent Valley National Park.It is a wonderful place to visit for tourists.

Landscape

Tropical evergreen forest. Huge trees, thick undergrowth. Heavy rains during the monsoons. Shola grasslands higher up.

Flora and fauna

Lion tailed macaque, elephant, leopard, tiger, nilgiri thar, malabar giant squirrel. Variety of other large mammals including deer, gaur etc. Large population of birds like hornbills, malabar whistling thrush etc. The place is teeming with the more "common" birds like drongos, tailorbirds, spotted dove, koels etc.

Climate

Humid during the rains (June, July, August), otherwise generally hot and tropical.

Get in

Permission required from the Kerala Forest Department. For a short one day trip (usually taken by tourists), permission can be obtained on the spot at the Forest Department office at Mukkali. This trip includes a short trek of about 2-3 km to the hanging bridge at the Kunti river.

The entry point of the road to the park is Mukkali, which is about 60 km from Palakkad. From Mukkali, it takes a 30 km jeep ride to get into the actual entry point of the park. Jeeps can be hired from Mukkali. It is difficult for cars to traverse, so dont attempt to drive unless you are adventurous and have an SUV and good skill on mountain roads.

Tourists are not allowed to stay in the Valley. They must come back to Mukkali by evening.

Entry into the valley is allowed only from 8 AM to 2 PM, as you need about one and a half hours (each way) to go to the Valley and come back. The Forest Department deliberately does not allow going to the Valley early in the morning to minimize disturbance to the animals. Tourists will not be allowed to stay/camp overnight at the Valley.

You will not be allowed to proceed without a guide. A guide will be assigned to your group when you get permission from the Mukkali Forest Dept Office.

If you just a casual tourist, then this is fine, but serious naturalists will have to contact the Wildlife Warden much earlier and get adequate permission. Trekking in deep forest (for a few days) requires permission from the Forest Department office in Trivandrum, and is difficult to get.

Anyhow, it is almost impossible to get permission to go anywhere near the core of the national park, unless you are a field researcher or something like that.

Fees/Permits

For Indian citizens, fees are not very high. Approximately, they are (in 2006): Vehicle (Jeep) rent from Mukkali to the Valley: Rs 500/- Guide charges: Rs 200/- Entry fee: Rs 50/- per head Vehicle entry fee: Rs 250/- per jeep Cameras (still camera): Rs 50/- per camera

Get around

Jeeps for hire from Mukkali (nearest point) or Mannarkkad (nearest town)

See

Enjoy the thick jungle, see the birds, you are lucky if you see the big mammals (on the short trek) Mostly you will see the Malabar Giant Squirrel, black langurs and of course many kinds of birds. Trek down to the Kunti river. There is also a watch tower overlooking the jungle.

Do

Take a bath in the Bhawani river at Mukkali

Buy

Nothing specific.

Eat

One or two tiny restaurants at Mukkali. Have to inform in advance for a fairly large group. No major eating joints or restaurants at Mukkali. It is adviceable to have food at Mannarkkad before travelling to Mukkali from Palakkad. Food is decent; please dont expect a "city-type" restaurant here!

Drink

Bottled water is available at Mukkali. Alcohol is strictly prohibited inside the forest. The department officials will check your luggage before they let you proceed to the valley.

Sleep

No mosquitoes!

Lodging

Forest department has a guest house/dormitory at Mukkali. Rooms have to be booked in advance.

Camping

Tourists are not allowed to stay overnight at the Valley; they have to return back to Mukkali by evening. So camping in the jungle is difficult. Mukkali is also densely forested; you may ask permission from the Forest deparment office if you wish to camp in Mukkali. No gurantees.

Stay safe

No much problems. Watch out for leeches in the jungle. Carry table salt from Mukkali to remove leeches from your legs.

Get out

Come back to Palakkad to get a train/bus to all parts of India. Nearest airport is Coimbatore, about 120 km away from Silent Valley.

Other details

Getting there: The nearest railway station is Palghat Junction (Palakkad.) From Palakkad, go to Mannarkkad, and from there to Mukkali. Both places are well connected by private buses. If you are planning to stay at Mukkali, reserve rooms in advance at the Forest dept resthouse. Or else you can stay at Mannarkkad and hire a jeep to reach Mukkali by 8 AM. Mukkali is about 60 km from Palakkad, with Mannarkkad en route. The visit to the Valley and Kunti river will take only a day, and you can return back to Palakkad the same evening.

Contact details: The Wildlife Warden, Silent Valley National Park, Mannarkkad, Palakkad dist, Kerala. PIN – 678582. Phone: 04924-222056

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mayuresh Kapote]

Hi Partha,

In Silent Valley no trekking permission.Kerala Government announce trekking banned in Silent Valley.Only 2-3 kms walking near river permission.Silent Valley trek waste of money and time.

WILDLIFE WARDEN,
SILENT VALLEY DIVISION
FOREST COMPLEX,
MANNRKKAD-678582
PALAKKAD-KERALA

http://www.silentvalleynationalpark.com/natureCamp.htm

--
Regards,

Mayuresh
Indian Adventure Club
#35, 3rd Cross, Byrasandra Main Road,
G M Palya, New Thippsandra
Bangalore - 560075
India

Email : ad...@iacindia.org
Phone: +91 80 42063625
Mobile: +91 9449077022
+91 9008362005

[Peter Van Geit]

Thanks Mayuresh. Silent Valley always looked more like a sightseeing type of place to me rather than a trekking stop with nice jungle trails.

 

Peter.

[R V Ramani]

I have not trekked yet with the group but has done few on my own with
close relatives especially in and around Silent Valley:

Silent Valley:

It used to be an wonderful trekking spot - three to five days
duration. Forest sheds are available inside the forest.

Some ideas:

Now, treks inside the valley are not allowed. However, Forest Dept has
developed some routes along the valley's boundry. Treks for 2/3
days are possible. The problem is, while you can speak to the Forest
Dept people from here, they are not that communicative. One should
talk to the DFO - Silent Valley at Mannarkad about 15 to 20 Kms away
from Mukkali. A Malayalli would be ideal for the conversation. OR
Some one from Coimbatore / Palgaht could make a personal visit.
Once, the DFO agrees, guides etc are easily organised.

Best thing would be, combine it with a trek thr Tamil Nadu - OOty
side. Then one needs permission from Tamil Nadu Forest Dept as well
and some times from two Ranges in Tnadu it self., both in OOTY.

Suggested routes:
OOty - Avalanche - Bangitapal- Mukkali or OOty - Avalnche-
Bangitapal- Sispara- Walacad- .. OR Nilambur- Bangitapal-
Mukkali. 3 / 4 days treks.

Coordinating and getting permission from Two States - 2/3 ranges is
difficult. Except one trek, where we were literally the forest
dept's guest, for others i used to struggle to get the permission.

I have done all the routes. Nilambur - Mukkali route is tough, which
i did in March 2008. I have also trekked inside Silent Valley Three
times when it was open to all. In my view, the best possible treks
in SOUTH.

I shall post the new routes quoted by the guides in 2008 some time
this week, once i abm able to retrive the papers of that trek.

My feeling is that for all these Big groups may not be suitable and
the dept may also not welcome big groups. This is my view.

One of these days, when a tough trek is posted, i would join you.

regards

Ramani
9841049542

On 8 Sep, 14:30, "Peter Van Geit" <peter.vang...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks Mayuresh. Silent Valley always looked more like a sightseeing type of
> place to me rather than a trekking stop with nice jungle trails.
>
> Peter.
>
> From: sachennait...@googlegroups.com
> [mailto:sachennait...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Mayuresh Kapote
> Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2008 1:48 AM
> To: partha sarathy
> Cc: The Chennai Trekking Club
> Subject: [Chennai Trekking Club] Re: Few more information about SILENT
> VALLY...
>
> Hi Partha,
>
> In Silent Valley no trekking permission.Kerala Government announce trekking
> banned in Silent Valley.Only 2-3 kms walking near river permission.Silent
> Valley trek waste of money and time.
>
> WILDLIFE WARDEN,
> SILENT VALLEY DIVISION
> FOREST COMPLEX,
> MANNRKKAD-678582
> PALAKKAD-KERALA
>
> http://www.silentvalleynationalpark.com/natureCamp.htm
>

> On Sat, Sep 6, 2008 at 12:30 AM, partha sarathy <ssmsara...@gmail.com>