Eravikulam National Park, about 15 kilometres from Munnar on the road to Rajamala, is Kerala's first national park and one of India's most important protected areas for mountain wildlife. Established in 1978, it covers 97 square kilometres of the high Western Ghats and is the best place in India to see the endangered Nilgiri tahr in the wild. The animals are remarkably habituated to humans and can often be observed grazing at close range on the open grasslands near the entrance area.
The park is also home to the rare Neelakurinji flower, which blooms once every twelve years and turns the hillsides an extraordinary shade of blue. The last bloom was in 2018; the next is expected in 2030. South India's highest peak, Anamudi (2,695 metres), lies within the park's boundaries — access requires a permit and prior arrangement.
Entry to the core area is managed carefully to limit visitor numbers. Tickets are available at the park entrance; go early as entry is sometimes restricted once capacity is reached. The park closes during the calving season (February to March).