Kerala's eastern border is defined by the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a global biodiversity hotspot.
**Key Parks and Reserves:** * **Periyar National Park:** Located in Thekkady, famous for its wild elephants, tigers, and a scenic artificial lake. * **Eravikulam National Park:** Home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr and the rare Neelakurinji flowers, which bloom once every 12 years. * **Silent Valley National Park:** One of the last undisturbed tracts of South Western Ghats mountain rain forests. * **Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary:** Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, rich in elephant and tiger populations. * **Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary:** A haven for migratory birds located on the banks of Vembanad Lake.