Eravikulam

Above the Clouds: A Day in Eravikulam National Park

Some places make you feel like you've stepped into a different world.

For me, one of those places was Eravikulam National Park.

I've visited many forests, wetlands, grasslands, and mountains over the years, but there was something about this trip that felt different from the moment it began. Maybe it was the weather. Maybe it was the landscape. Or maybe it was the fact that I spent most of the day feeling like I was walking through a fantasy movie set.

Either way, it turned into one of the most memorable field trips I've ever had.

The Journey Up

The day began with a journey into the high-altitude grasslands of the Western Ghats.

As we climbed higher, the scenery started changing. The forests slowly gave way to rolling hills, open grasslands, and valleys draped in mist. Every turn revealed another postcard-worthy view.

And then came the clouds.

Not around us.

Not below us.

We were literally walking through them.

At several points during the trek, visibility would suddenly drop as clouds swept across the hills. A few minutes later, they would clear just enough to reveal endless green slopes stretching into the distance.

It felt unreal.

The kind of scenery that makes you stop mid-conversation just to stare.

A Different Kind of Biodiversity

As a naturalist, it's impossible for me to walk through a place without constantly looking around for life.

Eravikulam did not disappoint.

The park is famous for its unique montane grassland ecosystem and the incredible diversity it supports. Every patch of vegetation seemed to hold something interesting.

Birds called from the valleys below.

Insects buzzed through flowering plants.

Tiny organisms occupied spaces most people would walk past without noticing.

And then there were the plants.

Being surrounded by species adapted to these high-altitude conditions was fascinating. The landscape itself felt alive in a completely different way from the rainforests I usually explore.

Meeting the Celebrities

Of course, no visit to Eravikulam is complete without meeting its most famous residents—the Nilgiri tahrs.

The state animal of Kerala has become synonymous with the park, and for good reason.

Throughout the day, we encountered several groups grazing peacefully across the slopes.

Seeing them in their natural habitat was incredible.

Unlike many wild mammals that disappear the moment they notice humans, the tahrs seemed perfectly comfortable going about their day.

Comfortable enough, in fact, to occasionally make visitors slightly uncomfortable.

Which brings me to one of the funniest moments of the trip.

The Nilgiri Tahr That Invaded My Personal Space

At one point, while we were observing a group of tahrs, one particularly curious individual decided that normal wildlife viewing etiquette was optional.

Instead of maintaining a respectful distance, it slowly walked closer.

And closer.

Before I fully processed what was happening, this magnificent mountain goat had entered my personal space and seemed genuinely interested in inspecting me.

For a brief moment, it looked like it was preparing to give me a kiss.

I don't know what was going through its mind.

Maybe it appreciated my field attire.

Maybe it mistook me for a strange-looking tahr.

Maybe it simply wanted to remind me who really owned the mountain.

Whatever the reason, it produced one of the funniest photographs and memories from the trip.

Not many people can say they nearly got romantically approached by Kerala's state animal.

Living Inside a Postcard

As the day went on, the weather continued to put on a show.

Clouds rolled across the valleys.

Sunlight broke through gaps in the mist.

Entire hills appeared and disappeared within minutes.

Every viewpoint looked better than the last.

I found myself repeatedly putting the camera down and simply enjoying the experience.

That's rare for me.

Usually, I'm too busy documenting everything.

But some places deserve your full attention.

Eravikulam is one of them.

Why Places Like This Matter

Trips like this are fun, but they also serve as important reminders.

The Western Ghats are one of the world's biodiversity hotspots, home to countless endemic species found nowhere else on Earth.

Standing in Eravikulam, surrounded by species that have evolved specifically for these mountains, makes conservation feel very real.

These landscapes aren't just beautiful.

They're irreplaceable.

Every grassland, every valley, every tahr quietly grazing on a hillside is part of a much larger story that has been unfolding for thousands of years.

Looking Back

When I think about this trip, I remember the scenery first.

The clouds.

The endless green hills.

The feeling of standing above the world for a few hours.

Then I remember the wildlife.

The birds.

The plants.

The iconic Nilgiri tahrs.

And finally, I remember the tahr that apparently decided we should become close friends.

Some field trips teach you something new.

Some give you great photographs.

Some leave you with stories you'll be telling years later.

This one managed to do all three.

And honestly, any day that ends with incredible biodiversity and an almost-kiss from a Nilgiri tahr is probably a successful day.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse