India·Kerala·Idukki·Munnar·wildlife

Mathikettan Shola National Park

High-altitude shola-grassland national park near Anayirankal and Chinnakanal, protecting montane forest, elephants and endemic birds; access is regulated by the Forest Department.

Mathikettan Shola National Park, Munnar
Practical guide

Plan Mathikettan Shola National Park

Who's going?Tailor Mathikettan Shola National Park to your trip
Typewildlife
Nearest baseMunnar
DistrictIdukki
Best timeDryer months are easier for wildlife…
Time neededHalf day to full day
Places to visit27Listed businesses73

Mathikettan Shola National Park belongs under Munnar, one of the practical travel bases in Idukki district. Use Munnar for stays, food, local transport and operators, then plan this place as a focused stop rather than an isolated pin.

What to expect

Highlights

  • Wildlife or forest landscape around Mathikettan Shola National Park
  • Official eco-tourism activities where available
  • Nature guides, birding and forest-edge stays
Getting there

How to visit

  • Base yourself in Munnar or a nearby town in Idukki, then confirm the last-mile route locally before leaving.
  • Book official entry, safari, boat or eco-tourism slots first, then plan transport and stay.
  • If the visit depends on forest, temple, boat, ferry, weather or seasonal access, check the official/local rule on the day before travel.

Distance by road

  • Kochi107 km
  • Madurai172 km
  • Thiruvananthapuram226 km
  • Coimbatore252 km
  • Kozhikode276 km

Road km to Idukki; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.

Timing

Best time

Dryer months are easier for wildlife access; monsoon access depends on local rules.

Weather in Mathikettan Shola National ParkSeasonal guide

Live forecast loads in your browser.

Today at Mathikettan Shola National Park
Sunrise6:12 am
Sunset6:34 pm
Golden hour best light5:34 pm–6:34 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:34 pm–6:59 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 281°
Moon tonight🌔 Waxing gibbous · 99%
South-west monsoon. June to September brings heavy rain to Kerala. Trails, falls and ghat roads can be slippery, swollen or closed at short notice, and forest departments sometimes suspend access. Check locally on the day before you travel.

Check the official alert before you travel. Kerala’s beaches, waterfalls and trekking routes close at short notice during heavy rain, and district alert levels change day to day. We do not publish an alert level of our own — read it from the state authority: Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, or the district control room on 1077.

Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.

Visitor notes

  • Respect forest timings, plastic restrictions and silence rules.
  • Carry ID if required for entry.
Safety

Good to know

  • Do not feed or approach wildlife.
  • Use official routes and approved operators only.
Official eco & forest programmes

Forest stays, camping and guided activities linked to Mathikettan Shola National Park

These are official or public-sector eco offerings that match this place, town or forest destination. Confirm availability, permits, tariffs and reporting times with the official operator before travel.

Meesapulimala, Mathikettan Shola National Park
trekforest staycamping

Meesapulimala trek through Rhodo Valley

Hard high-altitude trek from the Munnar side via Rhodo Valley, run through KFDC eco-tourism with guide, food and stay options.

KFDC Ecotourism MunnarOvernight with next-day trek
Official source →
Meesapulimala Base Camp, Mathikettan Shola National Park
campingforest staytrek

Munnar Base Camp tent stay

KFDC tent stay near Meesapulimala base camp, with campfire, food and optional trek towards Meesapulimala or Rhodo Valley.

KFDC Ecotourism MunnartentOvernight
Official source →
Meesapulimala Base Camp, Mathikettan Shola National Park
forest staytrekviewpoint

Munnar Sky Cottage

Lonely cliff-side KFDC cottage facing a waterfall and Anamudi views, paired with Meesapulimala trekking.

KFDC Ecotourism Munnarforest cottageOvernight
Official source →
Rhodo Valley, Mathikettan Shola National Park
forest staytrekviewpoint

Munnar Rhodo Mansion

KFDC Rhodo Valley night stay with elephant-trench protection, campfire, food and next-day Meesapulimala climb.

KFDC Ecotourism Munnarforest cottageOvernight
Official source →
Eravikulam National Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park
wildlifeviewpoint

Eravikulam National Park visit

High-altitude grassland national park and Nilgiri tahr habitat near Munnar.

Kerala Forest Department
Official source →
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Mathikettan Shola National Park
trekwildlifeforest stay

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary eco visit

Dry-forest wildlife sanctuary east of Munnar, listed in Kerala Tourism’s ecotourism inventory.

Kerala Forest Department
Official source →
Pambadum Shola National Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park
trekwildlifeforest stay

Pambadum Shola National Park eco visit

Shola forest national park near the Munnar/Vattavada side, listed as an ecotourism destination and programme.

Kerala Forest Department
Official source →
Anamudi Shola, Mathikettan Shola National Park
trekwildlife

Anamudi Shola eco visit

Shola-grassland forest landscape in Idukki, included in Kerala Tourism’s official ecotourism destination list.

Kerala Forest Department
Official source →
Marayoor, Mathikettan Shola National Park
wildlifeinterpretationtrek

Marayoor sandalwood forest eco visit

Sandalwood and dry-forest landscape on the Munnar-Chinnar side, listed by Kerala Tourism as an ecotourism destination.

Kerala Forest Department
Official source →
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop

Stays, food & things to do near Mathikettan Shola National Park

Verified hotels, homestays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and rentals around Mathikettan Shola National Park — commission-free, with direct contact. Filter by what you need.

14 things to do near Mathikettan Shola National Park

Eravikulam National Park Official Ticket Booking — Official park ticket booking in Munnar
Top pick Verified
Official park ticket booking · Munnar
Eravikulam National Park Official Ticket Booking
26.4 km · ~44 min by cab

Official Eravikulam National Park ticket booking page for Rajamala — the tahr-viewing zone above the park's ticket gate on the Munnar road.

Directions Commission-freeView details
Munnar Wildlife Division Online Booking — Official forest booking office in Munnar
Top pick Verified
Official forest booking office · Munnar
Munnar Wildlife Division Online Booking
23.1 km · ~39 min by cab

Official Munnar Wildlife Division booking portal for forest stays, trekking and protected-area visitor services.

Directions Commission-freeView details
KDHP Tea Museum Munnar — Tea museum in Munnar
Top pick Verified
Tea museum · Munnar
KDHP Tea Museum Munnar
24.4 km · ~41 min by cab

Official Kanan Devan Hills Plantations tea museum at Nullatanni Estate, a short drive from Munnar town.

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Munnar Wildlife Trekking Official Booking — Official trekking booking in Munnar
Verified
Official trekking booking · Munnar
Munnar Wildlife Trekking Official Booking
23.1 km · ~39 min by cab

Official Munnar Wildlife Division trekking information and booking contact. Forest Information Centre, Wildlife Warden's Office, Munnar PO, Idukki District, Kerala 685612 · trekking, official booking, forest.

Directions Commission-freeView details
Kalypso Adventures Munnar Trekking — Adventure tour operator in Munnar
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Adventure tour operator · Munnar
Kalypso Adventures Munnar Trekking

Adventure operator with Munnar trekking itineraries, cycling and walking holidays in Kerala. Trekking, adventure operator, Munnar trekking.

Commission-freeView details
Blanket Ayurveda Spa Munnar — Ayurveda spa in Munnar
Verified
Ayurveda spa · Munnar
Blanket Ayurveda Spa Munnar
21.7 km · ~36 min by cab

In-house Ayurveda and wellness center at Blanket Hotel & Spa near Attukad Waterfalls. Ayurveda, spa, wellness.

Directions Commission-freeView details
Tattvam Ayurvedic Spa, The Panoramic Getaway — Ayurvedic spa in Munnar
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Ayurvedic spa · Munnar
Tattvam Ayurvedic Spa, The Panoramic Getaway
23.1 km · ~39 min by cab

Ayurvedic spa at The Panoramic Getaway with direct appointment phone evidence. Short therapies from Rs. 1199; Ayurveda packages from Rs. 4750; taxes extra · spa, ayurveda, wellness.

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Munnar Taxi Service — Taxi and tour transport in Munnar
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Taxi and tour transport · Munnar
Munnar Taxi Service

Munnar taxi, airport transfer, local sightseeing, Kolukkumalai jeep safari and trekking transport operator.

Commission-freeView details
Amber Dale Ayurveda & Spa — Ayurveda spa in Munnar
Verified
Ayurveda spa · Munnar
Amber Dale Ayurveda & Spa
22.9 km · ~38 min by cab

Ayurveda and spa facility at Amber Dale Luxury Hotel & Spa in Pallivasal. Ayurveda, spa, wellness.

Directions Commission-freeView details
Bodhi Tree Spa at The Fog Munnar — Spa in Munnar
Verified
Spa · Munnar
Bodhi Tree Spa at The Fog Munnar
21.4 km · ~36 min by cab

Spa in Munnar. Spa, wellness, Chithirapuram.

Directions Commission-freeView details
Antara Ayurspa, Misty Mountain Munnar — Ayurveda spa in Munnar
Verified
Ayurveda spa · Munnar
Antara Ayurspa, Misty Mountain Munnar
23.4 km · ~39 min by cab

Ayurvedic spa facility at Misty Mountain Resort in Pallivasal. Ayurveda, spa, wellness.

Directions Commission-freeView details
Munnar Sandy Taxi Service — Taxi and tour transfer provider in Munnar
Verified
Taxi and tour transfer provider · Munnar
Munnar Sandy Taxi Service
23.0 km · ~38 min by cab

A Moolakadai, Munnar based taxi operator covering airport transfers, local sightseeing, jeep safari, tent camping and tour packages.

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Munnar Green Parrot Taxi — Taxi and jeep-safari transfer provider in Munnar
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Taxi and jeep-safari transfer provider · Munnar
Munnar Green Parrot Taxi
10.7 km · ~18 min by cab

A Chinnakanal-Suryanelli based Munnar taxi operator offering cabs, jeep safaris, airport transfers and customised sightseeing packages.

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Munnar Cabs — Taxi and airport-transfer provider in Munnar
Verified
Taxi and airport-transfer provider · Munnar
Munnar Cabs
23.0 km · ~38 min by cab

Munnar Cabs is a direct-source taxi and cab operator at the Munnar bypass, covering Cochin and Madurai airport transfers, local sightseeing and outstation trips.

Directions Commission-freeView details

Book with the place itself. India’s cyber-crime coordination centre warned in April 2025 that convincing copies of hotel and pilgrimage booking sites are being pushed through sponsored search and social ads, taking payment for rooms the property never hears about. Every listing here links to the business’s own contact details and its own Google or Bing profile — we take no commission and sit in nobody’s payment path. If a booking page reached you through an ad, check the address bar against the property’s own site before you pay. Fraud can be reported on cybercrime.gov.in or on 1930.

Ranked guides

Top experiences around Munnar

10 more Munnar experiences worth building a day around, each with a full guide, how to reach it and what sits next to it. Mathikettan Shola National Park is left off — you are already on it — and so is anything already shown in the nearby list further down, so nothing here repeats.

hill stationMunnar

Kerala’s most famous hill station, known for tea estates, viewpoints and cool weather.

wildlifeEravikulam National Park

High-altitude grassland park, Nilgiri tahr habitat and access point for Anamudi views.

viewpointAnamudi Peak

The highest peak in South India, viewed through Eravikulam/Rajamala access contexts near Munnar.

wildlifeRajamala

Eravikulam National Park visitor zone known for Nilgiri tahr viewing and high-altitude grasslands.

museumTea Museum

Tea-history museum in Munnar linked with the plantation story of the high ranges.

trekMeesapulimala trek

Popular high-altitude Western Ghats trek, usually booked through official eco-tourism channels.

wildlifeChinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Dry-forest wildlife sanctuary on the Marayoor-Udumalpet side of Idukki.

heritageMarayoor

High-range village known for natural sandalwood forests, dolmens and sugarcane jaggery.

wildlifeAnamudi Shola

High-altitude shola forest landscape near the Munnar side of Idukki, useful for protected-forest and Vattavada-route context.

waterfallLakkam Waterfalls

Waterfall stop on the Munnar-Marayoor route, usually paired with Eravikulam and Marayoor days.

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Nearby

What’s near Mathikettan Shola National Park

damAnayirankal Dam 5.1 km · ~13 min by auto · straight line
viewpointKolukkumalai 6.2 km · ~15 min by auto · straight line
viewpointChathurangapara Viewpoint 11.4 km · ~19 min by cab · straight line
viewpointLockhart Gap 14.5 km · ~24 min by cab · straight line
trekChokramudi Peak trek 14.5 km · ~24 min by cab · straight line
viewpointTop Station 14.7 km · ~25 min by cab · straight line
viewpointEcho Point 15.9 km · ~27 min by cab · straight line
hill stationDevikulam / Sita Devi Lake 17.4 km · ~29 min by cab · straight line
wildlifePambadum Shola National Park 17.8 km · ~30 min by cab · straight line
damKundala Lake 18.4 km · ~31 min by cab · straight line
viewpointAamai Para 37.2 km · 57 min drive
damMattupetty Dam 19.0 km · ~32 min by cab · straight line

All 27 places to visit in Munnar →

Walking and driving times are real routed distances, except the few marked “straight line”, which are direct-line estimates and will read short. Fare figures are estimates from Kerala’s notified auto/taxi tariff and exclude waiting and night charges. Routing: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

On the map

Where Mathikettan Shola National Park is

Good to know

Mathikettan Shola National Park — frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Mathikettan Shola National Park?

Dryer months are easier for wildlife access; monsoon access depends on local rules.

How do I reach Mathikettan Shola National Park?

Base yourself in Munnar or a nearby town in Idukki, then confirm the last-mile route locally before leaving. Book official entry, safari, boat or eco-tourism slots first, then plan transport and stay. If the visit depends on forest, temple, boat, ferry, weather or seasonal access, check the official/local rule on the day before travel.

How much time do I need for Mathikettan Shola National Park?

Half day to full day.

What else is near Mathikettan Shola National Park?

Nearby you can pair Anayirankal Dam (5.1 km), Kolukkumalai (6.2 km), Chathurangapara Viewpoint (11.4 km), Lockhart Gap (14.5 km).

What should I know before visiting Mathikettan Shola National Park?

Do not feed or approach wildlife. Use official routes and approved operators only.

Read before you go

Mathikettan Shola National Park guides, stories & itineraries

We have not published a story about Mathikettan Shola National Park itself yet. These cover Munnar, the town it sits in, and the wider district.

Around Munnar

Mathikettan Shola National Park sits in Munnar, so these cover the streets, buildings and surroundings around it.

In-depth guides to Munnar

Written about Munnar as a whole rather than about Mathikettan Shola National Park — its history, its streets, and how to spend a day in it.

Kerala-wide guides & itineraries

Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Kerala.

See all 65 Idukki guides & stories →

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