Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Munnar, Kerala (Visit In 2024)

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most promising places to experience nature to its fullest.

Do you want to explore this sanctuary? But, before, visiting this, you have to know some details of the sanctuary, which I have written in this article.

Hey friends, I am Somraj Mondal, wildlife and bird sanctuary content developer at indianchacha.com. In this blog post, I’m gonna show to you the complete details of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Here, you can know about,

Flora and Fauna sanctuary
Trekking and Treehouse at the Sanctuary
Jeep safari
Best time to Visit
And, much more information

Let’s begin.

Table of Contents

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Munnar, Kerala Overview

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Western Ghats and is a part of Idukki district, in Kerala District. Spread over an area of 90.44 km², Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary has been recognized with the name of being the only rehabilitation center for the Indian Star Tortoise in India. The sanctuary is rich in fauna and natural flora which makes the area one of the popular destinations for Nature and Wildlife Lover.

Chinnar Sanctuary has many medicinal Plants and Turtles as a starting house. This is under the jurisdiction of and adjacent to Eravikulam National Park to the south and in the north, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. The Sanctuary has many species of animals such are gray langur, slender loris, wild elephants, tigers, grizzled giant squirrel, and many more. If you want to take a rest from the Hustle and bustle city and spend some time with nature, it is the perfect place for you. In addition, this sanctuary has also a Basic Trekking Facility.

Address: 8644+PC6, Munnar – Udumalpet Road, Munnar, Kerala 685612
Established: August 1984
Area: 90.44 km2
Elevation: 2372
Phone: 083010 24187

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is under consideration for selection as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

Flora of the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Chinna Wildlife Sanctuary is a well-known repository of medicinal plants along with a rich diversity of animals. There are almost 1000 species of flowering plants and various types of medicinal plants. Mostly, The sanctuary is made of grassland and wet grassland vegetation with some South Western Ghats Mountain RainForest. This diverse ecosystem and species richness make this sanctuary one of the richest forest reserves in Kerala.

Some of the flowering and medical plants of the sanctuary are Elaeocarpus Recurvatus, Arabica, Santalum Album, Neelakurinji Acacia Leucophloea, and many more. The sanctuary has dry deciduous and thorny scrub forests The main xerophytic species of thorn scrub forest are Acacia arabica, Acacia leucofolia, Acacia concinna, Prosporis juliflora, Opuntia stricta and many more.

Fauna of the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary has a rich diversity of wildlife with 144 species of animals. One of the main attractions of the fauna of the sanctuary is the Grizzled Giant Squirrel, which is hard to find anywhere else. Another special resident of the sanctuary that is discovered in the forest is the Gaur, also known as the Manjampatti white bison. There are about 144 species of animals and 225 species of birds.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary also provides a habitat for panthers, Hanuman monkeys, bonnet macaquesIndian elephants, common langurs, and many more. You can also see little cormorants, rusty-spotted cats, sambars, Nilgiri tahrs, bonnet macaques, kraits, spotted cobras, darters, leopards, tigers, star tortoises, crocodiles, tufted gray langurs, wild elephants, slender loris and spotted deer. the sanctuary.

Apart from the only wildlife of the sanctuary, Chinna Wildlife Sanctuary is also famous for conserving a variety of birds such as the Black Eagle, Gray Heron, Serpent Eagle, Yellow-throated Bulbul, Little Egret, and many more.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Ticket Price, Timing

Ticket Price:

Indian Tourist	Rs. 10
Child (below 12 yrs)	Rs. 5
Foreigner Tourist	Rs. 100
Camcorder	Rs. 150
Still Camera	Rs. 25
Heavy Vehicles	Rs. 150
Lite Vehicles	Rs. 50

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Timing:

Day	Timing
Monday	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Best Time To Visit Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

The Best Time to visit Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is November to March Month. During this month, the weather of the sanctuary remains pleasant and cool. So, that, the people can easily explore the full sanctuary without feeling tired under sunlight. The altitude ranges from 500 to 2400 meters above sea level, so there is a sharp change in the climate of this park throughout the year.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Trekking and Wildlife Safari

You can do Trekking at the Chinnal Wildlife Sanctuary which gives you an awesome experience. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary offers three hours of trekking and camping for travelers. According to the interest of Explorer, the trekking route is especially customized. In this trekking, you can see many Wildlife, Butterfly, Birds, Plants, and many more things. The choice of a trekking trail also depends on the physical fitness of the trekkers, the personal hygiene requirements of the visitors, and their choice of food and beverages.

You can take a Guider who perfectly guides you for Trekking. The Forest and Wildlife Department organizes these treks along with Eco-Development Committees formed by tribal communities. There are different options for treks depending on their duration and the route chosen by the guests. One of the most preferred Trek is the Visyapara trek, here you can stay at night in the hut amidst the natural beauty.

Apart from the Trekking at Chinnal Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the other best chilling activities to do here is Wildlife Jeep Safari. Jeep Safari as a Solo Traveler, or with friends and family, give you an awesome experience to feel the forest as you explore its surroundings in an open jeep and see animals roaming around.

All you need to do is first register with the forest department. By the way, the Sanctuary authority also provides Night Jeep Safari. The jeep safari at Chinnal Wildlife Sanctuary takes 2 hours to complete and costs approximately Rs. 2000.

Treehouses at Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

To add some more excitement to your Munnar trip at Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, you can enjoy a unique experience, by staying in the Treehouse at the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary has a unique facility for its patrons, Tree House Stay.

A quiet stay tucked away in the heart of the forest, Staying at the Tree House, the experience of the sanctuary is only enhanced by these provisions. Though, You may not find the lavish luxury of fancy hotels at the Treehouse, but, believe me, guys the experience of staying at the Treehouse with the wild is just awesome. Once-in-a-lifetime, have to experience worthy of your attention.

The treehouses are fully furnished and supplied with water as well as solar power. You are going to stay in the midst of greenery with the sounds of various animals and birds surrounding your abode. You will also get breakfast and dinner during your stay at the treehouse.

How to reach Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

You can visit the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in 3 ways;

By Road: There are many Buses and Local taxis available to reach the sanctuary. Kerala State Run Transport Corporation runs various public buses from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The distance between Munnar and Chinnar is only 65 km. The nearest town to Chinnar is Marayoor, which is 16 km from the sanctuary.
By Train: Kottayam railway station is the nearest station from the sanctuary which is about 140 km. While boarding the train, you can book a cab or hire a taxi to reach the final destination. Also, buses are well connected to the park.
By Air: Madurai International Airport is the nearest Airport to the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. After reaching the airport, you can take a local taxi or Cab to reach the Sanctuary.

Location in Google Map:

Restaurant Near Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

These are some restaurants at the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary to eat meals;

Zamzam Bakery: This is a great choice for finger food to satisfy your hunger pangs. In this restaurant, you can get mouth-watering food at affordable prices.
Sandal Breeze Hotel: Here, you can all types of Vegetarian, Non-Vegetarian, seafood, and many more according to your Normal Money Bag. Sandal Breeze Hotel is a budget-friendly eatery. The restaurant serves a delicious breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Hotel Suryabhavan: This is a pure vegetarian restaurant that serves delicious food. Here, you can also taste some South Indian Authentic Food.

Accommodation: Hotel Near Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Apart from staying at Treehouse, if you like to stay at Resorts or hotels, Here are some places to stay near Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Marayoor Holidays Annex Paradise Valley Inn: This is a very affordable Hotel that will give you a perfect holiday atmosphere in the forest. Surrounded by Greenery, the hotel offers fully furnished rooms with a balcony. There is also an on-premise restaurant serving delicious Indian cuisine with high tea facilities.
Golden Fern: Golden Fern Cottage is Surrounded by beautiful gardens and mountain views. The hotel has a bonfire, free WiFi, free parking game room, outdoor, free WiFi, free parking, and many more facilities. They can help guests arrange horse riding, walking tours, and hiking activities.
Davis Farm House: This is one of the closest and privately owned locations to Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, ideal for families. Picturesque property with magnificent views of the surrounding river and mountains will soothe your senses.

Travel Tips while visiting the Sanctuary

Don’t forget to bring a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the hot sun.
Avoid littering inside the park.
Wear thick clothes and waterproof shoes for Trekking.
Always carry enough water bottles and mosquito repellent whenever you plan to visit this sanctuary.
Camping or fires are not allowed inside the premises.
Do not attempt to feed, hurt or tease forest animals and birds. It is strictly prohibited.

Conclusion

In short, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the amazing places in Kerala to spend the weekend with your friends. You can enjoy Jeep Safari, Trekking, Staying at Treehouse, and many more things. I hope you got the necessary information about Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary from this article before visiting the sanctuary.

Now, I want to know from you:

Which place in Kerala, you have already visited or are Ready to explore?

Let me know in the comments now.

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Somraj Mondal

Somraj Mondal is an Extensive experience in SEO and Travel, Lifestyle, and Bird Enthusiast expert of Indianchacha. A professional Blogger who loves to explore new places, and new cultures.