Tucked inside one of Kerala's most picturesque corners, the Silent Valley National Park is a tropical rainforest within the revenue districts of Palakkad and Malappuram. It saw one of India's earliest protests by environmentalists and concerned citizens to stall a proposed hydel power project. But why call it a "silent valley"?
As you travel through the forests of India, you must have encountered the noise of the cicadas. The cicadas are a superfamily—the Cicadoidea—of insects in the order Hemiptera (true bugs). The courtship calls of the male often form the background noise of forests in India. Apparently, without cicadas, this forest tract was empty of sound and became known as the Silent Valley. It is said that the name was coined way back in 1847.
According to local belief, this was where Draupadi (who took the name of Sairandhri when the Pandavas were supposed to stay anonymous during their exile) and the five brothers stayed for some time. Hence, it was earlier called "Sairandhrivanam," while the river that runs through the entire forest was named Kunthippuzha after Kunthi, their mother. The river rises in the hills and then flows into the plains through a gorge.
The Kerala Tourism website also mentions that one story "attributes the name to the Anglicization of Sairandhri". In contrast, another story refers to the presence of many Lion-Tailed Macaques or Macaca silenus.
Declared a national park in 1984, Silent Valley is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It also became a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012 when the Western Ghats earned the citation.
Hemmed in by steep escarpments and high, continuous ridges, the Silent Valley—said to contain one of India’s last extensive stretches of tropical evergreen forests—has developed a unique ecology. The terrain supports many wild animals and plants, some unique to the area.
According to the state's forest and wildlife department, the forest here is a botanist's paradise, with nearly 1,000 species of flowering plants, 107 species of orchids, 100 ferns and fern allies, 200 liverworts, 75 lichens, and about 200 algae. Many of these floral varieties are endemic to the Western Ghats.
The department also lists 34 species of mammals, 292 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles, 22 species of amphibians, 13 species of fishes, 500 species of butterflies and moths, and many lower forms of animal life. One of its most prominent wild residents is the Lion-tailed Macaque.
Ethnic tribes, such as the Irulas, Kurumbas, Mudugas and Kattunaikkars, have been living here since time immemorial.
The best way to explore the national park is to go camping inside and explore the forest at leisure, albeit with a guide. Vehicles go up to Mukkali, which can be said to be the base camp for explorers. From here (with due permission), visitors may trek (check if jeep rides are available) 23km inside the forest to reach the forest station at Sairandhri. The initial part of the trip passes through the buffer zone, which mainly consists of farmlands and coffee, teak, and eucalyptus plantations. If you are lucky, you may catch glimpses of spotted deer, sambar, Malabar giant squirrel, etc., on the way. According to veteran travellers, it is always advisable to be accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, as encounters with elephants cannot be ruled out. The forest station marks the entry point of the core area. There is a forest watch tower in Sairandhri. One may also explore the banks of the Kunthi River.
One of the popular trails inside the forest leads to Bommiyampadi. Eco-tourism packages include a guided walk through the forest and a night stay. You may also inquire with Kerala Tourism about the various nature camping programmes in the company of people who are well acquainted with the forest and guide you about the importance of flora and fauna. However, since trekking and camping inside the forest depends on weather and other factors, it is advisable to check with the state tourism department before planning.
The national park is located about 20 km away from Mannarkkad in Palakkad district. The nearest rail head is Palakkad. The nearest airport in Kerala is Kochi International Airport, about 180km away by road. You may also fly in through Coimbatore airport in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, which is about 160km away.
Owing to the delicate ecology of the Silent Valley Nationa Park, there are many restrictions to be followed before you enter. Permission to enter the national park has to be obtained from the Assistant Wildlife Warden's office at Mukkali or from the Wildlife Warden's office at Mannarkad. Entry to the national park is from 8am to 1pm.
Between December and February.