Silent Valley in Kerala is considered India's last area of tropical evergreen rain forest and is a precious biodiversity resource. Threatened by the construction of a dam across the Kunti River, which flows out of Silent Valley National Park, during the 1970's, Silent Valley was rescued as a result of an agitation by environmentalists and conservationists in Kerala. It is also called as Sairandhrivanam (the forest in the valley). The park which is remote has difficult terrain and is surrounded with Attappadi Reserve Forests in the east, and vested forests of the Palghat and Nilambur divisions in the west and south. In the North, the park is an extension of the Nilgiri Forests. The park which has never had human habitation is in the core area of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Silent Valley National Park is one of the few remaining pristine forest areas in the Western Ghats. The park is called Silent Valley because the loud calls of Cicadas heard elsewhere in this region are not heard here. Silent Valley has an amazing range of wildlife. Tigers, deer, and mammals native to the South Indian Peninsula, such as the Nilgiri Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Lion-Tailed Macaque, Flying squirrel and Civet Cat are found in Silent Valley National Park. One can enjoy observing these rare animals and many more during the trekking in Silent Valley National Park.

More than 100 butterflies species and 400 moth species have also been observed in Silent Valley National Park. Birds such as the Malabar Hornbill, Great Indian Hornbill, hoopoes, tree pie, barbets, crow pheasant, woodpeckers, rollers, drongoes, kingfishers and parakeets can be seen in abundance in Silent Valley National park. Many varieties of snakes, amphibians and lizards can also be seen in Silent Valley. There are more than 110 species of plants in Silent Valley National Park, including many plants that are known for their medicinal properties. The best time to visit Silent Valley is from September to March, during the pleasant winter.

In & Around Silent Valley

Not far from the Silent Valley National Park are the hill resort of Coonoor, the rapidly growing town of Coimbatore and a number of wildlife sanctuaries such as the Parambikulam sanctuary, the Attappadi or Mountain Valley, the Choolanur Peacock Sanctuary and the JP Smriti Vanam.

How to reach Silent Valley

Nearest Airport: Peelamamedu,Coimbatore(155 Kms), there are daily flights to Calicut (Kozhikode), Chennai, Mumbai & Madhurai.

Nearest Railway Station: Olavakkode Railway Station at Palakkad (75 Kms) away is connected to silent valley by road.