Mathikettan Shola Rain Forest

 

Mathikettan Shola Rain Forest also known as Mathikettan Shola National park is located in the Poopara village of Udumbanchola taluk of Idukki district of Kerala state. It is spread across 12.82 sq.km and very rich in flora and fauna. In 1897 the Travancore Government declared Mathikettan Shola as a reserve forest. Part of the land was leased for Cardamom plantations before it was declared as the National park on 21^st November in 2003. The declaration took place to protect the ecological, floral, faunal and geographical wealth for the coming generations. The word Shola is derived from Tamil language and it means a thick forest combined with huge trees and grass land. This combination makes way for bio diversity and cool climatic conditions. Mathikettan in local language means ‘mind confuser’ and people say that one forgets the path after entering the forest.

 

People can reach Mathikettan Shola National Park from Poopara via Munnar through the Munnar – Kumily Highway. It takes approximately 1.15 hours and the distance is 34 km from Munnar. Another road to reach Poopara is through the Idukki - Kothamangalam route. Poopara is 85km away from Kothamangalam and it takes approximately 2.30 hours to travel this distance. From Kochin airport it is 130km and from Madurai airport it is 120 km to Mathikettan Shola National Park. Munnar and Nedumkandam are the close by towns. Kottayam is the nearest railway station and it is at a distance of 150km and takes 4.30 hours to reach. Poopara has ample lodging facilities for the visitors.

The forest receives both south-west and north-east monsoon heavily which is a solid factor of the richness in vegetation and wildlife in this limited area national park. The forest is full of greenery and Bhesa Indica, Callophyllum austro-indicum, Syzyium gardneri, Chionanthus ramiflorus and Litsea wighteana are the dominant trees in this forest. The mosses, lichen, aroids, ferns and orchids cover these trees. Many varieties of birds, mammals, butterflies and reptiles are abundantly found here. The commonly seen animals are Elephant, gaur, wild bear, sambar deer, wild dog and jungle cat. The richness and diversity of the park resembles that of Anamudi Shola National Park along the Western Ghat area in Idukki district. Also this is one of the well known Elephant corridors in Kerala. Mathikettan is considered as an ideal place for the environment education. The only tribal community living in the Mathikettan Shola National Park area is Muthuvan. Trekking is the main attraction here which gives a unique opportunity to observe the wild animals and biodiversity of the plants and trees. Permission from the forest department is required for trekking. Guided tours are operated for the visitors and November to March is the best period to explore the rain forest.

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