Mathikettan Shola National Park is located in
Poopara village near
Udumbanchola,
Idukki District. The Shola spans an area of about 1282 hectares of land and is under the control of the forest department.
The part of the Cardamom Hill Reserve in Mathikettan area was notified as a Reserve Forest by the erstwhile Travancore Government in 1897. Subsequently, portions of the territory were leased out for cardamom cultivation. The park is of great importance as it is an elephant corridor.
Mathikettan was declared as a National Park in October 2003 in order to protect the wildlife and rich biodiversity of the area. The park is noted for its ecological, faunal, floral and geographical wealth and its environment.
Mathikettan Shola can be approached from Poopara via Munnar, on the Munnar - Kumily Highway. One can also reach Poopara on the Idukki route via Kothamangalam. The nearest airports are Madurai Airport and Cochin International Airport. Kottayam Railway Station is the nearest railway station. Lodging facilities are available at Poopara.
