Mathikettan Shola

Mathikettan Shola National Park is located in the Idukki district of Kerala, India, covering 12.82 square kilometers of montane evergreen forest in the Western Ghats. Established as a national park in 2003, it protects one of the increasingly rare shola-grassland ecosystems found only at high elevations in the Western Ghats. The park ranges from 1,400 to 1,966 meters in elevation, with Mathikettan Peak as its highest point. "Shola" refers to the patches of tropical montane forest found in valleys and sheltered areas, interspersed with grasslands on ridges and slopes, creating a unique mosaic ecosystem. The park supports populations of Asian elephants, gaur, Nilgiri tahr, tiger, leopard, and numerous endemic bird species including the Nilgiri wood pigeon and white-bellied shortwing. Despite its small size, Mathikettan Shola plays a critical role in watershed protection and as a corridor connecting larger protected areas in the Western Ghats.

Mathikettan Shola was designated a national park in 2003, one of Kerala's more recent protected area designations reflecting growing awareness of the importance of shola ecosystems. These unique high-altitude forests were historically more extensive but have been significantly reduced by tea and cardamom plantations, cattle grazing, and eucalyptus plantations established during and after the colonial period. The area had been under some form of forest protection prior to national park designation, but lacked the strict conservation status needed to address ongoing threats. Local communities, particularly tribal groups, have traditional connections to these forests, using them for grazing and collection of forest products. The park's establishment involved negotiations to balance conservation with traditional rights and local livelihoods. Its small size reflects the fragmented nature of remaining shola forests, with Mathikettan representing one of the better-preserved patches worthy of strict protection.

Mathikettan Shola is located near Poopara village in Idukki district, approximately 12 kilometers from Munnar, Kerala's premier hill station. Munnar is accessible via road from Kochi (130 km), which has the nearest airport and major railway station. Access to the park requires permits from the Kerala Forest Department, obtainable from the Range Office in Poopara. Tourism infrastructure is minimal, with no developed facilities or marked trails within the park. Visitors typically explore the periphery and buffer zones rather than the core park area, with local guides necessary for safe navigation through the rugged terrain. Most visitors stay in Munnar, which offers extensive accommodation ranging from budget homestays to luxury resorts. The best visiting period is September through May, with October through March being ideal for pleasant weather and wildlife viewing. The monsoon season (June-September) brings heavy rainfall that makes access difficult and potentially dangerous due to leeches and slippery trails.

Conservation at Mathikettan Shola focuses on protecting one of the last remaining intact shola-grassland ecosystems in the Western Ghats. The park faces pressure from surrounding tea plantations, which have replaced most of the original forest in the region and create edge effects including invasive species encroachment. Restoration efforts work to remove invasive plants, particularly Scotch broom and other exotic species introduced for plantations, that threaten native shola vegetation. The park serves as an important corridor for elephant movement between larger protected areas, requiring management that maintains connectivity across the landscape. Human-elephant conflict occurs in surrounding villages, necessitating mitigation measures including early warning systems and compensation schemes. Grassland management is critical, as shola grasslands require periodic fires or grazing to prevent woody plant encroachment, yet must be protected from overgrazing by domestic cattle. Water conservation is a key ecosystem service, with the shola forests acting as natural water towers, capturing moisture from clouds and regulating stream flow for downstream communities and agriculture. Community engagement programs involve local villages in conservation, providing alternative livelihoods to reduce dependence on park resources and building support for protection. Climate change monitoring focuses on how changing temperature and rainfall patterns affect the shola ecosystem, with concern that warming temperatures could eliminate suitable habitat for species adapted to cool, moist conditions.