Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur)

Sanctuary established in 1988 in the Western Ghats to protect the near-threatened grizzled giant squirrel, now part of the Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve. It also hosts elephants, gaur and over 270 bird species, with its headquarters at Shenbagathoppu near Srivilliputhur.

Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur), Srivilliputhur
Practical guide

Plan Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur)

Who's going?Tailor Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur) to your trip
Typewildlife
Nearest baseSrivilliputhur
DistrictVirudhunagar
Best timeOctober to March is the cooler, drier…
Time neededAbout an hour
Entry₹50
Places to visit5

Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur) is planned from Srivilliputhur, one of the travel bases in Virudhunagar district. Use Srivilliputhur for stays, food and local transport, then plan this place as a focused stop.

What to expect

Highlights

Getting there

How to visit

  • Base yourself in Srivilliputhur or nearby in Virudhunagar, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel.
  • If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.
Timing

Best time

October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.

Weather in Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur)Seasonal guide

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Today at Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur)
Sunrise6:08 am
Sunset6:03 pm
Golden hour best light5:03 pm–6:03 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:03 pm–6:28 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 261°
Moon tonight🌒 Waxing crescent · 24%
Retreating monsoon. October and November still see spells of rain from the retreating monsoon, though it is usually lighter than mid-year. Conditions are generally good but worth checking.

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.

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Stays, food & things to do near Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur)

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Top experiences around Srivilliputhur

4 more places around Srivilliputhur. Open a guide to plan the visit and onward journey.

templeSrivilliputhur Andal Temple

10.7 km · ~18 min by cab

Twin shrine of the Alvar saint-poet Andal and Vishnu as Vatapatrasayee, one of the 108 Divya Desams. Its 192-foot 11-tier rajagopuram is the emblem on the Tamil Nadu state government's official logo.

templeSathuragiri Hills (Sundara Mahalingam Temple)

12.0 km · ~20 min by cab

Siddha pilgrimage hill in the Western Ghats above Watrap, revered as an abode of siddhas and reached by an 8 km trek from Thaniparai to the Sundara Mahalingam and Santhana Mahalingam shrines. The main trekking base at Thaniparai/Watrap lies in Virudhunagar district.

templeMadavar Vilagam Vaidyanathar Temple

11.1 km · ~18 min by cab

The largest Shiva temple in Virudhunagar district, 1 km south of Srivilliputhur, built by Thirumalai Nayak in the 16th century. Its Siddhamirtham tank water is believed to have curative powers.

damPilavakkal Dam

10.0 km · ~17 min by cab

Masonry dam on the Kovilar river near Watrap, comprising the Kovilar and Periyar dams surrounded by paddy fields. It is a popular picnic and children's play spot about 55 km from Virudhunagar.

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Before you go

Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur) — at a glance

TimingsDawn to dusk (roughly 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
Best timeOctober to March (post-monsoon, cooler and greener)
Entry price
Indian adult
₹50

Government monuments, museums and forest reserves in India often charge foreign visitors more. We have not verified whether this site does — ask at the counter.

Fees change without notice. Check the current rate at the counter.

Entry: Approx INR 50 forest entry; trekking/permit charges extra, confirm at Shenbagathoppu range office

Getting here

How to reach Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur)

Srivilliputhur railway station ~15 km; nearest airport Madurai (IXM) ~80 km

Getting around Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur)

If you need step-free access, contact the site before travelling. Ask about a level entrance, steps along the route, the nearest drop-off point, seating and accessible toilets.

If you need help at Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur)
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).

Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.

Nearby

What’s near Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur)

damPilavakkal Dam

Masonry dam on the Kovilar river near Watrap, comprising the Kovilar and Periyar dams surrounded by paddy fields. It is a popular picnic and children's play spot about 55 km from Virudhunagar.

10.0 km · ~17 min by cab · straight line
templeSrivilliputhur Andal Temple

Twin shrine of the Alvar saint-poet Andal and Vishnu as Vatapatrasayee, one of the 108 Divya Desams. Its 192-foot 11-tier rajagopuram is the emblem on the Tamil Nadu state government's official logo.

10.7 km · ~18 min by cab · straight line
templeMadavar Vilagam Vaidyanathar Temple

The largest Shiva temple in Virudhunagar district, 1 km south of Srivilliputhur, built by Thirumalai Nayak in the 16th century. Its Siddhamirtham tank water is believed to have curative powers.

11.1 km · ~18 min by cab · straight line
S
Sri Vettai Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Rajapalayam
Place
templeSri Vettai Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Rajapalayam

A centuries-old east-facing Vishnu temple in Rajapalayam with a five-tiered rajagopuram, where the deity Vettai Venkatesa Perumal stands in the sanctum. A later shrine for Padmavathy Thayar was added, and a Karuppasamy sub-shrine stands before the gopuram. It sits below the southeast tip of the local Murugan temple hill.

11.8 km · ~20 min by cab · straight line
templeSathuragiri Hills (Sundara Mahalingam Temple)

Siddha pilgrimage hill in the Western Ghats above Watrap, revered as an abode of siddhas and reached by an 8 km trek from Thaniparai to the Sundara Mahalingam and Santhana Mahalingam shrines. The main trekking base at Thaniparai/Watrap lies in Virudhunagar district.

12.0 km · ~20 min by cab · straight line
A
Arulmigu Draupadi Amman Temple, Rajapalayam
Place
templeArulmigu Draupadi Amman Temple, Rajapalayam

A temple in Rajapalayam dedicated to Draupadi Amman, enshrined together with Krishna and the five Pandava brothers. It is known for its Pookuzhi (fire-pit walking) festival observed by devotees. The temple reflects the Draupadi Amman cult tradition of southern Tamil Nadu.

12.1 km · ~20 min by cab · straight line
S
Sanjeevi Hills (Sanjeevi Malai), Rajapalayam
Place
viewpointSanjeevi Hills (Sanjeevi Malai), Rajapalayam

A forested hill on the Western Ghats near Rajapalayam, associated in legend with the Sanjeevi mountain of medicinal herbs carried by Hanuman to heal Lakshmana. A hilltop temple at the summit draws daily devotees who trek up. The dense vegetation and rugged terrain make it a popular trekking and pilgrimage spot.

13.0 km · ~22 min by cab · straight line
townRajapalayam

The largest town in Virudhunagar district, at the foothills of the Western Ghats, famous for its mangoes and as the origin of the Rajapalayam hound (Polygar hound), a native Indian sighthound. It is a gateway to Ayyanar Falls and the Western Ghats.

13.7 km · ~23 min by cab · straight line
waterfallAyyanar Falls

Western Ghats waterfall about 6 km west of Rajapalayam at the confluence of the Palar and Neeraru rivers, where the Neer Katha Ayyanar temple stands. It is a main drinking-water source and a popular picnic spot for eastern Virudhunagar district.

14.6 km · ~24 min by cab · straight line
K
Karunellinathar Temple, Thiruthangal
Place
templeKarunellinathar Temple, Thiruthangal

A rock-cut Shiva temple on the Thiruthangal granite hill, believed to have been built by the Pandyan minister Gurukalathirayan in 1233 CE. It shares the hill with the Ninra Narayana Perumal Divya Desam and a Murugan shrine, forming a rock-hill temple complex. The site lies about 4 km from Sivakasi.

29.7 km · ~50 min by cab · straight line
townSivakasi

Industrial town known as the firecracker capital of India, producing the bulk of the country's fireworks alongside major safety-match and offset-printing industries. It is a factory-town heritage destination south of Virudhunagar.

29.8 km · ~50 min by cab · straight line
templeNinra Narayana Perumal Temple, Thiruthangal

One of the 108 Divya Desams, dedicated to Vishnu as Nindra Narayana and built on a 100-foot granite hill at Thiruthangal near Sivakasi. It contains rock-cut cave shrines with 8th-century Pandya inscriptions and unusually has no rajagopuram.

29.8 km · ~50 min by cab · straight line

All 5 places to visit in Srivilliputhur →

On the map

Where Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur) is

Good to know

Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur) — frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur)?

October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.

What are the entry fee and timings at Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur)?

Entry: Approx INR 50 forest entry; trekking/permit charges extra, confirm at Shenbagathoppu range office. Timings: Dawn to dusk (roughly 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM). The rupee figure quoted is the Indian adult rate. Government monuments, museums and forest reserves in India often charge foreign visitors more, and we have not verified whether this site does.

How do I reach Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur)?

Base yourself in Srivilliputhur or nearby in Virudhunagar, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel. If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.

How much time do I need for Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur)?

About an hour.

What else is near Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur)?

Nearby you can pair Pilavakkal Dam (10.0 km), Srivilliputhur Andal Temple (10.7 km), Madavar Vilagam Vaidyanathar Temple (11.1 km), Sri Vettai Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Rajapalayam (11.8 km).

Read before you go

Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur) guides, stories & itineraries

We have not published a story about Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (Srivilliputhur) itself yet. These cover Srivilliputhur and the wider district, with separate journeys between stops.

Around Srivilliputhur

These guides explore Srivilliputhur and the surrounding area. Choose a visit that fits your interests, allowing separately for travel between stops.

Tamil Nadu-wide guides & itineraries

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

See all 11 Virudhunagar guides & stories →

Image credits

Photographs: Cyrillic (English Wikipedia) (Public domain), A. J. T. Johnsingh, WWF-India and NCF (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wikimedia Commons.