Eravikulam in February is closed. The Kerala Forest Department's mandatory Nilgiri Tahr calving closure runs February 1 through end-March every year — non-negotiable rule, no entry permits issued to Rajamala viewing zone, Anamudi permits suspended, online booking system at eravikulam.kerala.gov.in marks the period unavailable. The calving period protects Tahr ewes (around 200 typically calving each season across the 750-strong Rajamala-Anamudi population) from human disturbance during the most vulnerable weeks of the year. The closure is published annually on the Kerala Forest Department website and the eravikulam.kerala.gov.in booking portal — verify exact dates per year as the period sometimes extends to mid-April depending on calving progress reports. If the trip is built around tahr viewing, Anamudi climb, or shola-grassland walks, push to October-January (peak) or April-May (post-reopen, calves visible alongside herd). Nearest options that month: tea estate walks in the Kanan Devan Hills around Munnar (KDHP estates, Tea Museum at Nallathanni ₹100), Lockhart Gap viewline, Top Station (32km, 1880m, Tamil Nadu border view), Mattupetty Dam, Kundala Lake — all run normal hours. The wildlife-led trip cannot happen in February.

Why February scores 2.0/10