Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Location: Kumily, Kerala
Nearest Access to Periyar : Kumily (4-kms)
Area of Periyar : 777-sq-kms
Elephant, Periyar National Park
Major Attractions: Elephants, Tigers, ,Gaur , Wild Dogs, Nilgiri Tahr
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts of Kerala, India. It is one of the most popular national parks in south India. The protected area of 925 km2 is an important tiger and elephant reserve. It is also known by the name of Thekkady and its core area of 350 km2 was declared as Periyar National Park in 1982. Periyar National Park is famous for its natural beauty and elephants.
There are many attractions inside the park, including the Periyar Lake. This lake was created during the British rule in India as a result of construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam in 1895. A boat ride in Periyar Lake is an excellent way to observe the wildlife of the park. BOOK NOW
Wildlife in Periyar National Park
Lion-tailed Macaque, Periyar
Elephants, numbering around 1000, can be easily seen inside the protected area. The park also maintains a healthy population of tigers. Gaur, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, Indian wild dogs, mongoose, foxes and leopards are the other animals found inside the park. Darters, cormorants, kingfishers, the great Malabar Pied Hornbill and racket-tailed Drongos are some of the 320 species of birds living inside the park.
Special Attractions in Periyar National Park
Periyar Lake: The Periyar Lake is an artificial lake created due to the construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam on the Periyar River. It helps the avifauna population of the region to grow without human interference.
Periyar Lake, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Kumily : Kumily is a nearby town that is a major tourist attraction and a spice trading destination.
Cardamom Hills : Then Kerala's picturesque and beautiful cardomom hills can be easily accessed from Periyar and Kumily. A guide who accompanies you in the jeep or taxi elaborates and directs you towards the correct position to have a panoramic view of the hills.
Boat Cruises : Boat Cruises are available on the Periyar Lake. It is the best way to explore the beauty of Periyar National Park. The boat cruise is an excellent way to see birds and wild animals on the edges of the lake.
Apart from the elephant safari in the park and the boat cruises on the lake; one can also enjoy the treks to the ruined Mangala Devi temple - an ages old beautiful old stone temple amidst the Thekkady forest.
Elephant and jeep safaris are also available inside the park. Elephant safari allows the tourists to get to those areas BOOK NOW which are not easily assessable by jeep safari.
Cormorant, Periyar National Park
Best Time to Visit Periyar
The best season to visit Periyar wildlife sanctuary is from the months of October and June.
How to Get there
Air : Kochi (Cochin) at 200-kms or Madurai in Tamil Nadu at140-kms are the nearest airports from Periyar.
Rail : Kottayam at 114-kms is the nearest railhead from Periyar.
Road : Kumily, the nearest town from Periyar is well served by both state and private buses from Kottayam, Ernakulam and Madurai in Tamil Nadu.
