Preliminaries
Situated
within the confines of the western ghats in
the southern Indian state of Kerala, Periyar
National Park and Tiger Reserve is one of the
most captivating wildlife parks in the world.
Formed with the building of a dam in 1895,
this reservoir meanders around the contours of
the wooded hills, providing a permanent source
of water for the local wildlife. Though its a
Tiger Reserve, tourists come here to view the
Indian elephants in the act of ablution and
playfulness by the Periyar lake.
Major Inhabitants Of Periyar National Park
Apart from Elephants, the other animals to be
seen in the Periyar sanctuary are gaur, wild
pigs, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, dole
or Indian wild dog and very rarely, a tiger.
There are, now, an estimated 40 tigers here.
Four species of primates are found at Periyar
- the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri
Langur, common langur and bonnet macaque.
Periyar also happens to be the habitat of the
elusive Nilgiri Tahr, which is rarely to be
seen.
The bird life comprises of darters,
cormorants, kingfishers, the great malabar
hornbill and racket-tailed drongoes. The
reptilian population boasts of monitor lizards
that can be spotted basking in the sun, on the
rocks along the lakeshore. Visitors who trek
into the Periyar national park often see a
python and sometimes, even a king cobra.
Significant Places & Activities
Kumily :
Situated
just 4-kms from Periyar, Kumily is a growing
town where tourism is fastly catching up just
like the spice trade, the major occupation of
this small town. The town is also well
equipped with the excellent hotels and resorts
for accommodation.
Cradomom Hills : Periyar and Kumily are
the most convenient points from which visitors
can easily explore Kerala's beautiful Cardamom
hills. Guide will approach you at offers of
trips via jeep or taxi to the hills and if you
can get a group together, these trips work out
as a good travel value.
Boat Cruises : Boat cruises make the
best option to check out the wilds of Periyar
Sanctuary.Today the Periyar lake presents an
excellent boating spot for tourists. Although
it is unusual to see many animals from the
boats, still you spot a family of Elephants,
Wild Boar, and Sambar Deer by the water's
edge.
Ideal Time to Visit Periyar National Park
The best season to visit Periyar Wildlife
Sanctuary is from the months of October and
June.