The Anamalai Nature Information Centre (Anamalai Iyarkai Vala Maiyam in Tamil) is being formally opened for the public on 6th September 2007. The Centre is housed in a building provided by Parry Agro Industries Ltd located by the main Pollachi-Valparai highway in Iyerpadi. The displays and information in the Centre are organised around three major themes: habitats, biodiversity, and conservation issues. One of the hallmarks of the Centre is that every effort has been made to display all educational information in English and Tamil. Around 40 nature photographers have donated around 300 stunning images for use in the Centre. With these images, 60 elegant and visually-appealing posters have been designed by Pavithra Sankaran for display. Some of the conservation issues and ecosystem functions are going to be brought to life through paintings made by Maya Ramaswamy, a reputed wildlife artist, who has collaborated with NCF on many such initiatives. Additional touch-and-feel displays, interactive audio (sounds of the forest) displays, educational games, and a nature trail through the adjacent rainforest are also planned. Library material and educational films about nature are also available and will be used to carry out activities with local school children.

We particularly like to thank S. Ramakrishnan (Ramki), Kalyan Varma, S. U. Saravanakumar, and Suresh Ganapathiappan, for their immense contributions to the Centre. The Photo Centre, Coimbatore, kindly helped print, laminate, and frame the displays at a concessional rate to support this initiative.