Silent Valley National Park - Trekking
The drive to Silent Valley National Park is flanked by
enchanting scenery on either side and this road leads you straight to
Mukkali, the base camp from where your journey begins. Those of you eager
trekkers who can't wait can also make the 4-kilometer trek from
hilly Attapadi to Mukkali through the Ghats. Attapadi and its hills are
considered the buffer zone of the Silent Valley National Park and are
drained by a couple of tributaries of the River Cauvery (Kaveri). Mukkali
is the entrance to the Silent Valley National Park. However, you will have to
drive about an hour further before you can begin trekking in the park.
This drive is peaceful with coffee plantations initially and dense forest
after a while. It is recommended that you hire a jeep and a driver, or
take the local bus if available.
As this can be a difficult route with narrow roads,
it is not recommended for drivers with any prior experience driving
through mountains nor those with cars that are not designed to handle such
terrain. Sit back and enjoy the pleasant drive through the magnificent
hills as you keep an eye out for giant squirrels and the rare lion-tailed
macaque, a perfect preview to Silent Valley.
All those who enter Silent Valley are required to take
permission to do so, even if you are visiting just for a day. This trek is
not one you should be doing on your own, and your guide will be able to
procure the required permissions. This includes a 2 to 3 kilometer trek
to the hanging bridge of the Kunthi River. For those who seek permission
for multiple day trekking expeditions, the process is difficult and will
take longer. More often than not you will be denied, unless you are a
research scholar or the like. It is near impossible to get permission to
enter the core area of Silent Valley.
As mentioned earlier, Silent Valley is a league apart
from other habitats in its geographic category. On account of this, most
of the wildlife has no reason for venturing beyond the heart of the valley
or core area because there is an abundance of food there. Sadly,
even though Silent Valley is one of the most bio-diverse regions in the
world, you may not be able to see all the different kinds of wild animals
that make their home here. A variety of leopards, deer, elephants, tiger
and gaur; the Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, Malabar giant squirrel and a
large bird population that includes Malabar whistling thrush, hornbills
all live in Silent Valley National Park. You could spot more common birds like drongos,
blue whiskered bulbul, woodpecker, tailorbirds, spotted dove, koels and a
variety of flycatchers and kingfishers.
The Kunti River of Silent Valley is too good to be true!
The strict regulation on visitors that the authorities impose is quite
evident in the lack of pollutants in this river. The water is so clear -
it is as if you are looking into a mirror. You can bathe, swim, drink and just
relax in its cool waters after a tiring trek. Around the river is a
magnificent hanging bridge that is fun to explore.
The visit to the Valley and Kunthi will hardly take up a
full day, what with it being only an hour and a half each way. The trek is
rated as easy to moderate, depending on your past experience and present
stamina. It is possible to explore the 'off-beat' trekking trails of
Silent Valley such as the Keeripara trail, which is exceptionally great for
birding and spotting bovines. There is also the 1.5 kilometer trail from
the watchtower to the Kunthi River that commands mention in the epic Mahabharata.
The trails of the Valley take you through the most
spectacular landscape. In Silent Valley, when it rains, it pours. Not just any
rain, but torrential tropical thundering monsoons that render the air
heavy with humidity. This is in June, July and August; the remaining
months of the year are generally very hot. There is a stream behind the
information center that is worth checking out as well. With the only
rainforests in the country and a region devoid of human inhabitation,
Silent Valley is certainly a trek that is worth checking out if you are in
the vicinity. However, it may not be one that is worth an overnight
journey as permits limit the scope of your trek and wildlife viewing
possibilities. That being said, if you do know of a way to acquire permission
to visit any part of the core area (Walakkad, Poochapara etc) – this will,
without doubt, be one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life.
Karuvara Waterfall Trekking
For brief details, please refer
Keerippara Trekking
For brief details, please refer
Boomiyampadi Trekking
For brief details, please refer
Sairandhri Trip
For brief details, please refer
Bhavani River Trekking
For brief details, please refer
