Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, National park in Dindigul district, India
Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is a protected area nestled in the Western Ghats featuring rolling hills, valleys, waterfalls, and varied ecosystems across its landscape. The terrain contains marked trails and open spaces where visitors can move through forests, grasslands, and water features in a natural mountain setting.
British colonizers established tea and coffee plantations across the Palani Hills in the 1800s, significantly reshaping the natural landscape. This period of agricultural development left a lasting mark on the region's structure and land use patterns that remain visible today.
Local communities in and around the sanctuary depend on traditional forest practices and sustainable farming methods that shape daily life in the surrounding villages. These customs have remained largely unchanged for centuries and continue to define the relationship between people and the land.
The best time to visit runs from October through March when temperatures remain moderate and weather conditions are most favorable for outdoor activity. Wear sturdy footwear and bring plenty of water, as the trails wind through different elevations and can be steep in places.
The sanctuary provides refuge for rare mountain-dwelling goats called Nilgiri Tahrs, animals found nowhere else in the world outside these hills. Local eco-tourism projects create income opportunities for nearby communities while helping to protect the species from further decline.
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