Located on the north of Kulathupuzha valley, and bounded by the Western Ghats on the east, the sanctuary, spread over 100 sq km, encompasses large tracts of tropical evergreen forest. The area is generally hilly, and at 1,550 m, Alvarkurichi is the highest peak. The long list of species of species found here includes the lion-tailed macaque, bonnet macaque, mouse deer, elephant, wild boar, sambar, gaur, Nilgiri langur, sloth bear, barking deer, black –naped hare, Malabar giant squirrel, slender loris, brown plan civet and the pangolin. Big cats are comparative rare. Trekking and boating are allowed within the tourist zone of the sanctuary.