The first national park in the State of Kerala, Eravikulam National Park in Idukki District extends over 97 sq km. In 1975, it was declared the Eravikulam- Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary and in 1978 it was elevated to a National Park. The park consists of high-altitude grasslands interspersed with shola forests, with a base elevation of 2000 m and reaching up to the 2695 m tall Anamudi peak, the highest south of the Himalayas. 26 mammal species including the largest surviving population of the Nilgiri Tahr, 132 bird species, 19 species of amphibians and more than one hundred species of butterflies have been located here.

Established as Anamudi Shola National Park on 21 November2003, the Park consists of three Shola forests - Mannavan Shola, Idivara Shola and Pullardi Shola.Spread across 42.68 sq km as per the Survey of India Topo Sheet, the Park elevation varies from 2152 to 2305 metres and the average rainfall is 2500 mm. The park acts as a valuable habitat connectivity area between the other parks and sanctuaries in the vicinity, like the Mathikettan Shola National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and Kurinjimala Sanctuary.

This is the smallest national park in the State at 1.32 sq km. The elevation is 1886 to 2531 metres. It was established in 2003 and is in DevikulamTaluk of Idukki district. The highly elusive and endangered Nilgiri Marten found here is a very endemic and endangered carnivore. Indian wild dogs, leopards, tigers, elephants, lion-tailed macaques, gaurs, Nilgiri langurs, etc. can be sited here. The nearby old Kodaikanal-Munnar road is closed to avoid wildlife-human confrontation.

Located in Pooppara village of UdumbancholaTaluk in Idukki district, the shola parkspreads over 12.82 sq km. It was notified as a national park on 21 November 2008. The shola forest has geological, geomorphological, floral and faunal riches much of which would have been lost forever but for the timely intervention of nature lovers and the Government of Kerala. Though the tract was notified as a Reserve Forest in 1897 by the Government of Travancore, some parts had been leased out for cardamom plantation and the remaining area was being plundered by poachers and encroachers until the place was declared a national park in 2008.

Situated in Kottakkamboor and Vattavada villages in DevikulamTaluk of Idukki district, this sanctuary was formed to protect the endangered Neelakurinji plant (strobilanthus kunthianus). This shrub turns the hillsides bluish lavender with a carpet of blossoms every 12 years. More than a million visitors come to see magnificent phenomenon. The next flowering will be in 2018. Threatened species like the Asian elephant, gaur and Nilgiri tahr can be sited in this 32 sq km reserve. The sanctuary is necessary for the connectivity and contiguousness of nearby national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

One of the largest in India, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady is the most popular wildlife reserve in the country. The tiger reserve which is part of the sanctuary is a great crowd puller. A boat ride on the placid Periyar Lake is the easiest way to sight wild animals in close proximity. Herds of wild elephants, which come to drink water and frolic in the lake, form a bewitching sight. Bison, spotted deer, sambar, leopard, stripe necked mongoose, Malabar flying squirrel etc. are also frequently sighted.

The Kerala portion of the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Marayoor-KanthallurPanchayats of DevikulamTaluk. It occupies over 90.44 sq km and is an integral part of the 1187 sq km block of the contiguous protected forests in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Munnar-Udumalpet Road, State Highway 17, divides the sanctuary in two. It was declared a sanctuary in August 1984. The altitude ranges from 400 to 2522 m and the average rainfall is 500 mm. Thoovanam Waterfall on the Pambar River is a major tourist attraction. 34 species of mammals, 52 species of reptiles, 42 species of fish, 22 species of amphibians, 156 species of butterflies, 101 species of spiders, 965 species of flowering plants - many of which are rare, endemic and endangered make this sanctuary a treasure trove of bio-diversity.