
One
of India's most popular wildlife sanctuaries, Periyar National Park and
Tiger Reserve is situated in Kerala. The park is in the cardamom hill ranges
in Western Ghats of the state. The park was formed after the construction of
a dam in 1895. Though a tiger reserve, people come here in large numbers
also to have a look at the gigantic elephants. Also known as Thekkady Tiger
Reserve, Periyar is one of the 16 Project Tiger Reserves of the country. As
the chances of wildlife sightings become very slim during monsoons, tourists
are advised to visit the sanctuary at any time between the months of October
and June.
Accommodation and Connectivity:
To reach Periyar, one can travel by air to either Cochin or Madurai in
Tamil Nadu. They are at a distance of 200 kms and 140 kms respectively. The
nearest railhead is at Kottayam at a distance of 114 kms. Kumily is the
nearest town from Periyar located at a distance of just 4 kms. Kumily is
well served by both state transport and private buses from many different
locations of the state. Kumily has emerged as a major tourist hub in recent
times due to the presence of the park.
As accommodation facilities in the park are limited, it is always advisable
to avail advance booking benefits.
Periyar Attractions
Mammals

A variety of wildlife species are the major attractions of this magnificent
wildlife sanctuary. They include gaur, wild pigs, sambar, barking deer and
mouse deer among others. Though around three dozen tigers are estimated to
be present in the park, tigers are seldom spotted here. The primate species
found at Periyar include the rare lion-tailed macaque, common langur and
bonnet macaque. The nilgiri tahr is also found here but remains mostly
elusive.
Birds
Cormorants, darters, kingfishers, the great malabar hornbill and
racket-tailed drongoes are some of the famous bird species found here. A few
varieties of migratory birds may also be spotted during winters. Park
authorities say that the population of a few bird species have increased in
recent times.
Reptiles
The reptile population basically includes the monitor lizards and python.
One would be lucky to spot a king cobra also.
Boat Cruises
Boat Cruises offer a great option to explore the Periyar Sanctuary. Infact,
Periyar lake has become an excellent boating spot for tourists. An early
morning boat cruise is most sought after by the tourists. Though the
possibilities of seeing many animals from boats is remote, the lucky ones
could still spot a family of elephants, sambar deer and wild boar by the
edge of water. The unadulterated greenery of Periyar is another great
delight to the visitor.