| Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary |
| About: |
| Megamalai is located on the slopes of the Western Ghats, amidst the lush green Tea plantations and Cardamom estates. It is popularly called ‘High Wavy Mountains’. It is a cool and misty mountain range and lies at a distance of 130 km from Madurai. A perfect place for nature lovers, its altitude is 1,500 m above sea level. The vegetation of the Meghamalai hills includes scrub forests at the foothills, stretches of tea and coffee estates, spice plantations of pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and the dense evergreen forest cover.There is a long-pending proposal with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to establish the Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary on 600 km² of forest in the division. Priority tasks in the sanctuary should be the control of poaching and the use of pesticides, the elimination of ganja (Cannabis sativa) and the cultivation and scientific management of watersheds. The Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary can be an excellent buffer to the Periyar Tiger Reserve and Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary and can immensely strengthen conservation in the southern Western Ghats, the range of hills south of the Palakkad Gap.The originating place of Suruli Theertham (Suruli falls near Cumbum town) are popular attractions for tourists. Tamil Nadu Forest Department is planning to establish the Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in an area of 600 sq km of the forest in the division. The Sanctuary will serve as an excellent buffer to the Periyar Tiger Reserve and will also help in strengthening the conservation efforts in the South-Western Ghats.Being very close to the forest, a number of wild animals can be seen roaming here. Megamalai is also host to a wide variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies. The most commonly seen animals are Tiger, Leopard, Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Sambar, Wild Boar, Porcupine, Nilgiri Langur, Lion-Tailed Macaque, Common Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Sloth Bear, Grey Jungle Fowl, Smooth-Coated Otter and Flying Squirrel. Resident and migratory elephants can also be seen wandering in groups here.It is also an ideal place for bird watching. In the forests over 100 species of birds have been identified. The Meghamalai ranges are also the birth place of the Megamalai fall. This fall descends from a stream originating from the hills. It is also known as the Clouds Land Falls and serves as the rendezvous of many wild animals. Megamalai falls are round-the-year falls that do not run dry. Another important range around Megamalai is Vellimalai, also known as the Silver Mountain. |
| Location info: |
| Address:Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary,Virudhunagar,Tamil Nadu,India |
| District:Virudhunagar |
| Nearest City:Madurai |
| Best time to visit: December to February |
| Climate/Weather: |
Summers:
The sun is at its glory and shines very brightly during the summers. During the summer months, i.e. from May to June, the temperature varies between 27 deg C and 40 deg C. Therefore, the climate is quite hot. May is the hottest month. Cottons are recommended during this time.Winters:
In winters, which starts from December and lasts till February, the temperature ranges between 20 deg C and 30 deg C. The climate remains pleasant during this time, as the temperature rarely falls below 20 deg C.Monsoon:
Though the rainfall is very frequent and uniform throughout the year, just like the flow of pilgrims and tourists, the city receives the major share of rainfall between the months of July and October. The average rainfall is 85 cm. |
| History: |
| At an altitude of 1650 m, Vellimalai forms the heart of Meghamalai. Silver-lined clouds gently resting on green hilltops is a common sight here. This region is also the abode of river Vaigai. The hill range also provides a wonderful view of the entire range of Varusanadu Hills. With tea and coffee estates, houses of plantation workers and an artificial lake, there is plenty of scope for enjoying the natural beauty. |
| Interesting things to do: |
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| Interesting things to Visit: |
Meghamalai Water Falls:
The meghamalai fall (called as Clouds land fall) occurs on a stream originating from Meghamalai. The special feature of the falls is that water is flowing through twin falls round the year. Frequent visits by elephants, spotted deer, gaur and other wild animals at dawn and dusk are a feast to the eyes. Forest Department officials have plans to assist tourists to view those wild animals.Flora:
Vegetation ranges from scrub forests at the foothills, up to ubiquitous expanses of tea and coffee estates, to spice (pepper, cardamom, cinnamon) plantations and finally to the dense evergreen forests at the top.Fauna:
Meghamalai forest area hosts a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies. Resident and migratory elephants are common. Other animals sighted are tiger, leopard, Nilgiri tahr, gaur, spotted deer, barking deer, sambar, wild boar, porcupine, Nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaque, common langur, bonnet macaque, sloth bear, Grey Junglefowl, Smooth-coated Otter and flying squirrel. Over 100 species of birds have been identified.Great Indian Hornbills:
The rare Great Indian Hornbills are found here. The Great Indian Hornbills are one of the largest hornbills and these are found on sea level up to 5,000 feet (1,500 m) above ground. Great Indian Hornbills like to eat various types of berries. Hornbills swallow most of their food whole instead of breaking it down first. Hornbills are famous for their nesting ritual. Now these beautiful hornbills are becoming rare, mainly due to their large hunting for their meat and destruction of their natural habitat. Protection and restoration of destructed forest areas food-tree resources, will aid the conservation of hornbills in the region.[3]Grizzled Giant Squirrel:
The sanctuary is also home to the endangered, arboreal Grizzled Giant Squirrel Ratufa macrora. The home range of an individual is between 1,970 and 6,110 m². This greyish brown squirrel weighs 1 to 1.8 kg and is the size of a small cat. It measures about 735 mm from nose to tail with the tail being 360 – 400 mm long. They construct nets at forked branches where the crowns of neighbouring trees meet. This enables the squirrel to move away from the site by jumping from tree to tree when threatened. It makes two nets. One it uses as a nursery and the other for resting. This confuses predators like birds and snakes.Salim Ali’s Fruit Bat:
One of the rarest fruit bats of the world, Salim Ali’s Fruit Bat, Latidens salimali, (named after Indian ornithologist Salim Ali) is only found in this mountain range. Salim Ali’s fruit bat is the only species in the genus Latidens. It is a medium-sized fruit bat, which lacks an external tail. The head is covered in blackish-brown fur which is paler at the base, the wing membrane and the long fur are light brown in colour, and the underparts are light grey-brown. The species was first collected in 1948 by a British naturalist called Angus Hutton, who mis-identified the specimen as the common short-nosed fruit bat. The specimen was re-examined later by Kitti Thonglongya who recognised it as a new species. Very little is known of the ecology of this species, however all fruit bats play an extremely important role as pollinators and seed dispersal agents within their rainforest habitat. This species is entered in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1993 as one of the rarest bats of the world.[4]Hutton’s pitviper:
The Hutton’s pitviper Tropidolaemus huttoni(Smith, 1949) is an enigmatic species of venomous snake described from the High Wavy Mountains in 1949. It was described from two juveniles collected by Angus F. Hutton from beneath the leaves of the palm Ochlandra travancorica, locally called “eata”. The species has not been recorded since its original description and no adults have yet been found. The most intriguing fact about this piviper is that it belongs to a genus whose other members, the closest living relatives of the Hutton’s pitviper, are distributed in the Malayan Peninsula only. This poses serious biogeographical questions. |
| Mobile range info: |
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| How to reach? |
| Nearest Railway Station:Madurai is Connected by rail via Madras with all the main places in India. |
| Nearest Airport:Indian Airlines connect Madurai with Madras, Calicut and Bombay. Vayudoot Services also connect Madurai with Madras & Pondicherry. East West Airlines also connect Madurai with Bombay. |
| Road Transport:Madurai is connected by good motorable roads to Madras (472 kms), Trichy (142 kms), Rameshwarm (139 kms), Kanyakumari (232 kms), Tirunelveli (151 kms), Kodaikanal (120 kms), Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (136 kms), Palani (122 kms), Thanjavur (223 kms), Bangalore (446 kms), Bombay (1454 kms). |
| Nearest Visiting places: |
Meenakshi Temple:
One of the major tourist attractions of Madurai is Meenakshi Temple. Located at the center of the town, the Meenakshi Temple is an architectural marvel of 16th century. It is considered to be one of the most sacred temples. Everyday thousands of tourists from all over the world visit this Temple.Constructed by Vishwanatha Nayak in the year 1560, the temple is built in typical gopuram style with towering spires. The Meenakshi Temple it has 12 towers which rises to the height of 45 to 50 meters. The Thousand Pillar Mandapam is the major tourist attraction of Madurai’s Meenakshi Temple.Vishnu Temple:
Located at a distance from the Meenakshi Temple, another major tourist attraction of Madurai is the Vishnu Temple. The presiding deity of Vishnu Temple is called Azghar. It is believed that this is another form of Vishnu. He is believed to be Meenakshi’s brother. During Chitrai festival a grand procession is carried from this temple to the Meenakshi Temple.Palamudhirsolai:
Tourists can also visit Palamudhirsolai which is considered to be the abode of Lord Subramanya. There is a natural spring near this temple.Indian Holiday.com gives you online information on Tourist Attractions in Madurai or other places in India. We offer travel packages to many popular and special tourist destinations in India. Take advantage of the best rates for tour packages to these travel destinations.Aruppukkottai:
This place is situated 20 kms from Virudhunagar. It is an important weaving centre and grocery trade centre.Thiruchuzhi:
The name of the place is so because it was saved from being sucked into the earth during the flood. It is situated 33 kms from Virudhunagar. A number of sacred pools can be seen scattered here. The great saint Ramana Maharishi was born here.Sivakasi:
This town of cottage industries manufactures safety matches and fireworks. It is also well known for litho-printing and calendar manufacture. More than 80% of the total3932 match factories can be found here. About 120 litho printing presses are also located here. This place is situated 25 kms from Virudhunagar.Srivilliputhur:
The Vadabhadra Sayi templeThis is the most important tourist attraction because of the ancient Andal temple. Andal, one of the twelve Vaishnavaite saints called Alwars was born here. They are called Alwars because they are immersed in Vishnu Bhakti and Alwar means one who is immersed.The 60 metre tower of this temple has been portrayed in the emblem of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The Vadabhadra Sayi temple here has beautiful sculptures. The carvings are very delicate is more dominant in the brushing of feminine images, Andal`s hair style. The head ornamentation is a speciality of South India. Here, the images of Rathi, Swan, Parasakthi, a lady playing the Veena, a warrior waving his sword are wonderful examples of ornamentations in stones.Rajapalayam:
This place is situated adjacent to the temple town of Srivilliputhur. It is the coolest place in the district, which is located almost on the Western Ghats. The dogs of Rajapalayam are well known for their fierceness. |
| Nearest Petrol Pump: |
| Petrol Pump:NH 7, Madurai, Tamil Nadu,IndiaPetrol Pump:NH7, Pasumalai, Madurai, Tamil Nadu,India |
| Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation: |
| Taj Garden Retreat:Madurai,Tamil Nadu,India,IndiaPh: 0452 2371601Grt Regency:38 Madakulam Road, TPK Road, NH7, Palangana, Madurai, 625003 – 0452 2371155Royal Court India:Madurai, Tamil Nadu,India- 045 2435 6666The Madurai Residency:15, west Marret Street, Madurai – 652 001, Not Specified, Madurai,Tamil Nadu,IndiaPh:0452 4380000Hotel Vijay:122, Tirupparankunram Rd, Vasantha Nagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu,IndiaPh:045 22336321 |
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| Help Line/Phone Number: |
| Police Station:Police station:Virudhunagar, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu,IndiaBazaar Police Station:SH 184, Virudhunagar, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu,IndiaPandian Nagar Police Station:SH 184, Virudhunagar, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu,India |
| Nearest Hospital:JKNurshing Home:272, A, Thiruchuli Road, Aruppukottai, Tamil Nadu,India,IndiaPh:04563 222941Visaka Poly Clinic:#1 Katarapalayam,, T.P.K Main Road,, Madurai, Tamil Nadu,India,IndiaPh:0452 2338275 |
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