NATIONAL PARKS OF INDIA

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
Address: Indira Gandhi National Park, Anamalai R.F., Tamil Nadu 642101
Phone: +91-4259-225356
Best time to visit: December to April
Entry time: 6 am and 6 pm