Silent Valley National Park (40 km from Mannarghat):
The Silent Valley National Park contains India's last substantial stretch of tropical evergreen rain forests and it is perhaps the only vestige of a near virgin forest in the whole of the Western Ghats. Though smaller in size in comparison to the other national parks in India, what makes it different is the sylvan environment the region has, along with its high altitude peaks and several rivers that run through it. The park is surrounded with Attappadi Reserve Forests in the east, and vested forests of the Palghat and Nilambur divisions in the west and south.

This prime rain forest of 90 square kilometres, best known for being completely silent with not even the buzzing of cicadas disturbing the tranquillity, came into the limelight during the 1984 national campaign to save it from a proposed dam project. Palakad, 85 kilometres away, is the nearest place with accommodations other than the forest rest houses.

Main attractions: Elephants, tigers, wild boars, flying squirrels, lion tailed macaques,and king cobras.
 
Parambikulam National Park
The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is a reservoir of tranquil greenery ensconced in a valley between the Annamalai ranges of Tamil Nadu and the Nelliampathy ranges of Kerala. The areas hilly and rocky, drained by several rivers, including the Parambikulam, the Sholayar and the Thekkedy. The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is 135 km from Palakkad and adjacent to the Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. Sprawling over 285 sq. km. This bird sanctuary is by the side of branches of River Periyar. The rivers are rich in fishlife and are abundant of water for most of the year. The avifauna includes both resting indigenous birds and water birds. Facilities for boarding and lodging are available at the sanctuary. There are forest rest houses at Thunacadavu, Thellikkal and Elathode. Treking in the forest is allowed with prior permission. Parambikulam is open throughout the year, but is best avoided during the monsoon. Between June and August, the monsoon rains lash, making hillsides unstable and causing slush, drippy roofs and other nuisances. Boat cruises can be arranged in the Parambikulam Reservoir.

Main attractions: Mammals: Bonnet macaques, lion, tailed macaques, Nilgiri langurs, tigers, leopards, jungle cats, mongoose, bears, elephants, gaurs, Nilgiri tahrs, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, wild boars, pangolins etc.

Reptiles: Crocodiles, varanur pond terrapins, cane trutiles, geckoes, skunks, chameleons, snakes like king cobras, spectacled cobras, kraits, vipers, pythons, green keel backs, rat snakes, vine snakes.

Fishes: Arals, brals, vatudis, thilopias, noovis, mooshus, poochittis, kollotties, exypriuses, tarals, mahaseer etc. Capped kingfisher, great Indian bombills, broad billed rollers, back woodpeckers.

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