Silent Valley is considered one of the most ecologically diverse areas on the planet. In the 1950s, the Kerala State Electricity Board wanted to build a dam across the Kunti River, which flowed in the deep forest. Nationwide protests in India by environmentalists and mass publicity by the media led the then prime minister, Indira Gandhi to order the state government to abolish the hydroelectric project. The area was declared a National Park.

The park is actually named Indira Gandhi National Park, and Silent Valley is the name of the place, but it is also called Silent valley national park. It is a wonderful place to visit for tourists.

Landscape: Tropical evergreen forest. Huge trees, thick undergrowth. Heavy rains during the monsoons. Shola grasslands higher up.

Flora and fauna: Lion tailed macaque, elephant, leopard, tiger, nilgiri thar, malabar giant squirrel. Variety of other large mammals including deer, gaur etc. Large population of birds like hornbills, malabar whistling thrush etc. The place is teeming with the more "common" birds like drongos, tailorbirds, spotted dove, koels etc.

Climate: Humid during the rains (June, July, August), otherwise generally hot and tropical.

One can enjoy the thick jungle, see the birds, you are lucky if you see the big mammals (on the short trek). Mostly you will see the Malabar Giant Squirrel, black langurs and of course many kinds of birds. Trek down to the Kunti river. There is also a watch tower overlooking the jungle.