Mathikettan Shola National Park
Encyclopedia
Mathikettan Shola National Park is a 12.82 km² national park
in Poopara village of Udumbanchola
taluk in Idukki district
of Kerala
state, South India
.
word literally meaning 'mind confuser', as the local people say that one forgets the path once he enters into the park.
by the Travancore Government in 1897. Part of the land, prior to becoming a national park, had been leased out for the production of Cardamom
. It was declared a National Park on Nov 21, 2003 to protect its ecological, faunal, floral and geographical wealth and its environment.
and Kottamalai areas. This is due to private establishments on the northern side of Mathikettan, as well as degraded forests and human settlements on the southern side in areas of Chinnamanur Forest beat in Gudalur range.
, on the Munnar - Kumily
Highway. One can also reach Poopara on the Idukki route via Kothamangalam
. The nearest airports are Madurai
Airport and Cochin International Airport. Kottayam
Railway Station is the nearest railway station. Lodging facilities are available at Poopara.
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in Poopara village of Udumbanchola
Udumbanchola
Udumbanchola is a taluk in Idukki district of Kerala state in India. This is in the high-ranges. Nedumkandam is the major town and capital of Udumbanchola taluk...
taluk in Idukki district
Idukki district
Idukki district is one among the 14 districts of Kerala state, India. The district headquarters is located at in Painavu.It is the second least populous district in Kerala, after Wayanad .-Etymology:...
of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
state, South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
.
Etymology
The name Mathikettan derives from the TamilTamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
word literally meaning 'mind confuser', as the local people say that one forgets the path once he enters into the park.
History
This tract was notified as a Reserve ForestReserve forest
You may be looking for forest reserve, a generic term associated with protected forest areas, which is also used as a specific term for protected forests in some countries...
by the Travancore Government in 1897. Part of the land, prior to becoming a national park, had been leased out for the production of Cardamom
Cardamom
Cardamom refers to several plants of the genera Elettaria and Amomum in the ginger family Zingiberaceae. Both genera are native to India and Bhutan; they are recognised by their small seed pod, triangular in cross-section and spindle-shaped, with a thin papery outer shell and small black seeds...
. It was declared a National Park on Nov 21, 2003 to protect its ecological, faunal, floral and geographical wealth and its environment.
Fauna
Elephants which visit Mathikettan shola from the Munnar Division become trapped between the BodinayakkanurBodinayakkanur
Bodinayakanur is a city and a municipality in Theni district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.-Demographics:...
and Kottamalai areas. This is due to private establishments on the northern side of Mathikettan, as well as degraded forests and human settlements on the southern side in areas of Chinnamanur Forest beat in Gudalur range.
Visitor information
Mathikettan Shola can be approached from Poopara via MunnarMunnar
Munnar is one of the most popular hill station in Kerala and in southern India. Munnar is located on the Western Ghats, situated in the Idukki district....
, on the Munnar - Kumily
Kumily
Kumily is a town in the Cardamom Hills near Thekkady and the Periyar Tiger Reserve, in the Idukki District of Kerala State in South India. It is a major tourist destination and a spices trading center....
Highway. One can also reach Poopara on the Idukki route via Kothamangalam
Kothamangalam
Kothamangalam is a town located in eastern part of Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala situated 45 km north east of Kochi City. It is located around 14 km north east to the town of Muvattupuzha. The town is situated in the foothills of the Western Ghats mountain ranges. It...
. The nearest airports are Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
Airport and Cochin International Airport. Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
Railway Station is the nearest railway station. Lodging facilities are available at Poopara.