Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

• State- Kerala

• Known as- South India’s most popular wildlife sanctuary

• Timings- 06:00 am to 06:00 pm

• Best time to visit- December to April

• Entrance Fee- Rs 10 for domestic tourists and Rs 501 for foreigners (valid for three days)

• There are additional fees for boating and other services

• Altitude- 900 to 1800 meters

• Weather – 15 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius

It is hard to believe but one of the most loved and visited wildlife sanctuaries of the south India located against the background of the Cardamom hills and Western Ghats is an artificial lake created by the British in 1895 to supply water to neighbouring Tamilnadu. This wildlife sanctuary lies and at an attitude of 900 to 1800 meters and has a relatively cool atmosphere that hovers around 15 to 30 degree Celsius. This place was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1933 and became part of the Project Tiger that was started in 1976 by the Government of India. The highlight of this place is that a considerable part of this reserve is covered with evergreen and semi evergreen forest that is simply the best as far as God’s own country is concerned.

Although Periyar is also known for Tiger reserve there were bleak chances of visitors sighting or coming across a tiger. However there is an equally good chance of spotting elephants, sambars, gaurs, mongoose and wild boars. An equally important part of the wild life sanctuary is the village of Kumily. This entire place is referred to as Thekaddy.

Flaura and Fauna and Attraction - the Periyar Wildlife sanctuary is a mix of both evergreen and semi evergreen forests. According to the estimates of the world life sanctuary there is an abundance of species various species. Prominent among these in the animal Kingdom include tigers, leopards, 900 elephants and 280 gaurs. The main attractions of the Periyar wild life sanctuary is the lion tailed macaque and Indian langur, Malabar giant squirrel, porcupine, wild dog, jungle cat, wild board jackals. There are as many as 178 species of bird identified in the area. Summing all these features the sheer effervescence of beauty on display is simply enchanting and hard to articulate.

Things to do at Periyar Wildlife sanctuary- There a number of things to do both in and around the Periyar Wildlife sanctuary. From visiting the tea plantations to boating to trekking, rafting and soon. Here is a checklist of things that certainly cannot be missed out while on visit

• Tea plantations- The aromatic tea plantations of Periyar are enchanting and a perfect place to visit. For those who love species and aromas then the spice plantations are a must visit. Thekaddy is also known for its various teas factories famous for their famous export and import quality tea

• Elephant ride- The first scenery that comes to mind of Periyar is the herd of elephants playfully marching to the river early in the morning. The Elephant ride is preferred by tourists as they get a panaromic and at the same time elevated view of the entire vicinity. The ride is a must try, the manhunts for same are well experienced and most of all it is a experience that is sure to live for a lifetime.

• Boat rides- The most common way of visiting the park for the many is boat. Apart from that the KTDC also organizes boat rides for tourists. These boats rides can get crowded and noisy at the time. So if you desire for a complete quite boating experience then the early morning boat ride is preferable.

• Bamboo Rafting- An alternative to boat riding is bamboo rafting. A brainchild of the state’s tourism department, this ride is conducted by the eco tourism wing. These rides are peaceful and render a better chance of watching wildlife. A single bamboo raft can accommodate about 4 to 5 people.

• Treks- There is wide range of treks available from 3 hours to a total of three days. These treks are supervised by local guides who are proficient in guiding tourists and visitors.

• Jeep Safari- There are frequent jeep safaris conducted by the tourism department

Where to stay

It is preferable to stay in Kumily as there is limited accommodation in the in park and the they are also expensive. The fine borders of the town are perfect place to stay especially if you are interested in spending your time in peace and quiet. The area is quiet and peaceful and is within close range of shops and places to eat. There are also budget, midrange and luxury accommodations available that serves visitors according to need.

How to reach

• By Air- The Cochin International Airport which is at about 190 km is the nearest International Airport

• By Rail- Thekaddy is well connected by road to various cities and towns in Kerala and also India

• By Rail- The nearest railway station near to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the Kottayam at 120 km.

• Delhi >> Kochi >> Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary >> Munnar >> Alappuzha >>Kovalam Beach >> Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Delhi >> Khajuraho >> Kerala Bird Sanctuaries >> Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary >> Kerala Backwater >>Kovalam Beach
• Delhi >> Rajasthan >> Agra >> Goa >>Kovalam Beach >> Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary