Contact the office at Pollachi or Parambikulam for lodging/boarding.

Enquire fully about the types of food available and facilities like hot water etc. Confirm over phone. Entry timings are from 6:30 AM to 5:30 AM. Make sure you reach the check post within this time span because nighttime riding inside the sanctuary is prohibited. The nearest petrol pump/bunk is at Vettaikaranpudur at the foothills of Topslip. Private vehicles in parambikulam are restricted to travel within the Black Topped main roads. Two wheelers are allowed up to the Sethumadai Check post but restricted within topslip. Carry drinking water after verifying with Park authorities. Bottled water may be available at canteen in Topslip. Make sure that you have a first aid kit with you for common ailments. Avoid perfumes. Dont wear colorful clothes. Khakis, brown and green clothes are best suited. Best seasons are from May to June and October to February. Temperatures are at a minimum of 2 C (winter) and Max 25 C in summer. Please do not get yourself into trouble by bringing in liquor its banned in the area. Pollachi has a few good hotels and restaurants. if you do not get accommodation in Topslip you can stay in Pollachi. The distance of reaching topslip from Pollachi(35km).)but the duration would be less than traveling to work under heavy traffic in your city.

Accommodation Facilities in TopSlip Name of Rest House In Topslip Wood House Chital Ambully Illam Bison Lodge Horn Bill Lodge Bamboo Hut Tree Top Pillar Top Dormitory No of Suits 2 2 4 4 2 1 2 2 2

Anamalai Tiger Reserve, TopSlip For Booking Rooms in Topslip Tel: 04259 238360

Accommodation in Parambikulam

Accommodation Facilities in Parambikulam Tented Niche ( 7 tents) Veettikkkunnu Island inn TreeTo Hut,Thunkkadavu TreeTop Hut,Parambikulam Elephant Valley home,Thunkkadavu Bison valley home Sambar Machan (Kuriakutty) Cheethai Machan (Anakkal) Thellikkal I.B Tiger Hall,Parambikulam Hombill Dormitory Anapaddy Salim Ali Centre,Kuriarkutty 14 Beds 5 Beds 2 Beds 2 Beds 6 Beds 6 beds 5Nos 5Nos 5 Beds 20 Nos 40 Nos 20 Nos

Ecocare Centre, Parambikulam Wildlife Santuary For Booking Rooms in Parambikulam Tel: 04253 - 245025, 245005 Mobile: (0)94422 01690 E-mail: wildlifewarden@parambikulam.org

Total 130 Beds Available For Accommodation in Parambikulam

Cots villa Minor padi, Near forest checkpost,Sethumadai Tamilnadu -642133 INDIA Tel : +91 - 4253 - 244277 Mobile:+919965463242. E-mail: info@cotsvilla.com For More Information visit www.cotsvilla.com

The Dense Farm stay cum Nature Camp Near Topslip check post Sethumadai Pollachi, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India Mobile: 9790041415 For More Information Visit: www.thedense.in

INDIRA GANDHI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY & NATIONAL PARK The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, the largest and well preserved sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, lies in the Western Ghats south of the Palghat Gap, better known as Anaimalais (Mountain of Elephants). With an area of 958 sq.KM, it is rich in flora and fauna.This protected area constitutes the most important watershed for the agricultural economy and power supply. Major reservoirs like Parambikulam, Aliyar, Thirumurthi, Upper Aliyar, Kadambarai, Sholayar and Amaravathi are fed by the perennial rivers which originate from the Sanctuary.

Great Indian Hornbill

The tribal communities living in the sanctuary are Kadar, Malasar, Malai Malasar, Muduvar, Pulayar and Eravalar. They participate in the management as Forest watchers and Antipoaching Watchers.
Topslip is located in the Anaimalai Forest Range bordering Tamilnadu and Kerala. The erstwhile Anaimalai Wildlife Santucary is now known as IGWS Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. A Forest Preserve, this range houses a variety of wildlife and birdlife. Wild elephant and bison sightings are quite common. Quoting from an article in The Hindu, The IGWS and National Park harbours over 250 species of birds of 49 families and is enormously rich in other biodiversity. According to the latest reports India is home to nearly 1,300 bird species in the diverse habitats. The neighboring Parambikulam Sanctuary is to the West of Topslip in Kerala.

The closest big town is Coimbatore which is around 80kms away. One has to head to Pollachi (40 kms), then to Anaimalai (another 15 kms), onwards to Sethumadai (10kms), to TopSlip (15kms). A Ticket is required to pass through the Forest checkpost in Sethumadai before a 15 km journey to reach 800Ft above sea level in Topslip. Being totally non-commercial, the only means of staying overnight is in Forest Guesthouses which have to be booked well in advance.

The Drive To Topslip

Reaching the Anaimalais, greenery abounds in every direction. Shady tree lined State Highways surrounded by Coconut Plantations on either side makes the drive up to Sethumadai.

A Forest Checkpost charges tickets for travelers. If one does not stay in the Forest Guesthouses in TopSlip and are only going up for a day trip, they are required to descend the forests by 6pm. Climbing up the short twisty ghats lined with Bamboo trees, one faces a number of hair pin bends. One cannot help but start admiring the scenic green drive.

On Reaching Topslip

One needs to be careful of Monkeys as they are looking for a quick bite always. Troops of Nilgiri Langurs can be seen traversing through tall trees a fascinating sight of acrobatics. Forest Guesthouses beckon vistors staying overnight. Visitors on day trips can avail a Forest Guide and drive around and/or can book an Elephant Safari.

Elephant Safari
One starts breathing easier in this pristine forest environment. I presume it must be all the greenery creating a natural Greenhouse effect. Same day visitors can buy tickets for an Elephant Safari. If lucky, one can see Wildlife Bisons, Wild Boars, Spotted Deer etc.. Really lucky ones can spot leopards! Tickets cost Rs. 400 per Elephant Ride.

The TopSlip Forest has 22 elephants for its forest work in the Kozhikkamuthy Elephant camp. Six to eight of these elephants are used for the elephant Safari. After loading on to an elephant up to 3 to each side, one takes off into the dense forest for a bumpy but exciting ride. The ride typically last for up to one hour. Lucky visitors get to see wildlife bisons, spotted deers, boars, wild hens etc.. We rode on a 33 year old Male Tusker named Surya. Surya has been domesticated now for 8 years. Surya was different than the other tuskers in that his tusks were off center and not symmetric. Surya rested its trunk on its right tusk a lot of times signs of old age?

The Safari takes one through fairly dense forests. Apparently there were a lot of Gaur (Indian Bison) sightings the previous day but we were not that lucky. We caught a brief glimpse of a spotted deer behind the bushes and that was it. In this Jurassic Park like atmosphere, one almost expects to see plant eating dinosaurs peek through the tall trees.

Scenic Beauty

Visitors can drive up to the Kerala border where the checkpost to the Parambikulam Sanctuary exists. The drive is both scenic and refreshing. Private vehicles are not allowed after this checkpost but one can avail Forest vehicles to head into the Parambikulam Sanctuary.

Gaja Poojai

Pongal or Sankaranti the Harvest Festival is celebrated all over India around mid January every year. This is followed by Mattu-Pongal a celebration of the Harvest Festival for cows as they are so critical for agriculture in India. While everyone knows about Pongal, most are not familiar with another ritual Gaja Pooja or Elephant-Pongal held every year in Topslip in the Anamalai Mountain Ranges to celebrate the usefulness of elephants to the Forests. While Elephant Safaris can be had round the year, the Gaja Poojai is a special once a year affair that lucky visitors have a chance to witness usually in the third week of January.

The Forest Elephants are lined up on this day, and sandalwood paste is applied to their foreheads to decorate them. This is one chance to see elephants of all sizes lined up next to each other on this special day the young cub drawing the most attention with the children.

While the daily feed to the elephants is only 10kg of Raagi (Finger Millet) the rest coming from the forests, Gaja Pooja is a special day for the elephants as they are fed delicacies to satisfy Lord Ganesha! The end of the Pooja is marked by a Salute to all the visitors by the assembled elephants. A sight to behold.

Entry Fomalities for TopSlip

If you are visiting the park for the day you can go directly to Top Slip (Entry INR 50). The Sethumadai checkpost is the entry point to TopSlip. In case you plan to stay at Top Slip, accommodation must be booked in advance at the: Wildlife Warden Office, 178 Meenkarai Rd, in Pollachi. Open Monday to Friday between 9 am to 5 pm. Tel: 04259 238360. Park entry time is between 6.30 am and 6 pm.

Summary
TopSlip is a fabulous getaway serene, calm, unpolluted and totally uncommercial. Wildlife, birdlife are available in plenty and it also offers trekkers great options. Gaja Pooja offers a great opportunity to see tens of elephants at the same time if one can time their visit on that day. While the guesthouse accommodations can be rather basic, TopSlip offers a fabulous gateway into the wilderness a true nature lovers paradise!

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