This sleepy village is situated at an elevation of 750 meters above sea level. Ranipuram village is 55 kms away from Kasaragod. This Kerala village is known for its diverse and rich vegetation, shoal woods, monsoon forests, undulating grasslands, natural trails and evergreen forests. This Kerala village was earlier named as Madathumala. As you travel to Ranipuram village in Kerala, you may see wild elephants on top of hills. Its forests are connected with the woods of Karnataka.
On your tours to Ranipuram village in Kerala, indulge yourself in trekking, mountain climbing and excursions. The scenic beauty of this Kerala village makes it one of the most frequented hill stations in Kerala. There are tourist cottages offering comfortable stay on your Ranipuram village tours in Kerala. Bus and jeep services are readily available from Kanhangad and Panathady.
The nearest railhead is 85 km away from Ranipuram village at Kasaragod on the Kozhikode-Mangalore-Mumbai route. The nearest airports are Mangalore (50 km from Kasaragod) and Karipur International Airport at Kozhikode (200 km from Kasaragod).
There are two trekking routes available through the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests. Part of the way the climb is assisted by cut steps. The ambiance of the forest trail is remarkable and once you reach the “Mani” (grass covered hilltop) the view is superb. The undulating cloud-topped hills stretch up to the plains and ocean on the horizon. This is unexplored territory for the nature enthusiast and birdwatcher. Butterflies are in abundance and birds of the evergreen biotope like the black eagle,crested serpent eagle and little spider hunter common. Elephants pay visits in the summer months and leopards have been sighted in the not-too-distant past. The Ranipuram forest should be declared as a wild life sanctuary by Kerala Forest Department to merge with borders of Thalakavery wild life sanctuary in Karnataka. The proposed Ranipuram Wildlife Sanctuary may protect and maintain overall biodiversity of the area in a better way. The place holds immense potential for ecotourism and may develop into a premier hill station in Kerala with the judicious development of amenities. Tourist cottages are available here provided by the KTDC and some private players have entered the scene. The proposed Ranipuram Wildlife sanctuary will be a boon to tourism development in Kasaragod district.
Ranipuram Shola National park / wildlife sanctuary
The proposed Ranipuram Wildlife sanctuary / National park consists of various Flora and Fauna which are endemic to Westernghat and yet to studied biodiversity hotspot. It merges with Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karanata. The Ranipuram hill station which falls in Panathady reserve forest is an ideal area to convert in to a National park/wild life sanctuary. The evergreen and shola forest seen only here in this district. Elephants, Leopard, wild dogs, Deer, wild boar, macaques, jungle cats, leopards, slender loris, porcupine, malabar giant squirrels, malabar civet and rare butterflies and medicinal plants are found in these forest. Most of these highly endangered animals are killed by people due to lack of conservational awareness or to protect their crops. Ranipuram wild life sanctuary will be in contiguous to Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka.
For this purpose, nearby reserve forests such as Panathady, eleri and konnakad can be encompassed to an area of 80 km2 of forest. If it is declared as a wild life sanctuary, it may enhance the tourism industry of this district along with Ranipuram hill station. Declaring it as a Biodiversity/ wildlife sanctuary is the only way to protect this Westernghat biodiversity hotspot and to ensure its survival for future generation. Illegal country liquor are made deep in the jungle. Poaching of wild boar, porcupine, hares, deers and even monkeys for their meat taking place mostly in the night time. It is never reported outside and inaccessible due to hilly and remote area. For that reason, Kerala Forest&wild life department, KFRI, TBGRI, ZSI officials neglected this area and most of the central and other fund have been diverted to their nearby district instead of setting up the park here. They should immediately take up a study for setting up of the park here.
Kasaragod district surrounded by three forest district, North by Dakshin Kannada (one NP and 2 wildlife sanctuaries), Kodagu in east (one NP and two wildlife sanctuaries) south by Kannur (one wildlife sanctuary and one elephant corridor). Till today, forest officials of this district never sent any proposal to state forest department or central government. For setting up sanctuary here, although shola, evergreen and mangrove forests are seen here.
Frequent visits of elephants from the nearby reserve forest suggests that it once was an elephant migratory route. Take action now before it too late. It can be successfully converted without any rehabilitation process as in the case of Malabar wildlife sanctuary of kozhikode district.
The proposed Munnamkadavu Dam and Irrigation project may very useful to create fresh water ecosystem and later a wetland ecosystem to home for wild crocodile, otter, endangered fish and other water birds. Afforestation around the catchment area of dam reservoir will help to create another new wildlife sanctuary here in future and recreate lost wild elephant corridor. It is also an integral part of Brahmagiri biosphere.
Flora’: Evergreen monsoon forest, shola, orchids, medicinal plants, grass lands etc.
Mammals: about 24 species mainly Elephants, wild bison, Leopard, wild dogs, mongoose, pangolin, Jungle cats, Malabar giant squirrels, Flying squirrels, fox, porcupine, bonnet macaques, Langur, Leopard cats, Deer, wild boar, slender loris, hares, squirrels, bats etc.
Birds: About 200 species mainly Great Indian horn bill, Paradise flying catcher, green barbet, peacock, trogon, wood pigeon, malabar grey horn bill, white bellied tree pie, heart spotted wood pecker etc..
Reptiles: King cobra, kraits, viper, rat snakes, Indian cobras, green whip snakes, monitor lizards etc.
Amphibians: About 19 species, Thousands of insects and spiders
About 100 species of butterflies including sword tail, forest nymph, malabar bird wing etc.
