GENERAL INFORMATIONBest time to
visit : October to April
Accommodation : Lake palace, Spice
Village, Taj Garden Retreat
Nearest town : Kumily (4 km)
The
Periyar wildlife sanctuary is situated in the south of India in the state of
Kerala.
It is well known for its herds of wild elephants of which
there are about 700 in the park. The Periyar Tiger reserve spreads over 777
sq. km and there are a significant number of tigers here, however they are
hard to see because of the dense undergrowth.
The elephants
however can be seen in abundance, particularly on the banks of the lake,
where they come to drink and bathe. Watching these playful giants is truly a
delightful experience.
Periyar is home to many other creatures
including the Nilgir Tahr, bison, different species of deer and the Nilgiri
Langur. There are also over 200 species of birds and over a 100 species of
butterflies in this wild life reserve.
There are spice gardens
near the sanctuary, where once can learn about the medicinal properties of
plants that have been used for centuries to cure ailments
Within
the park you can travel by jeep or take an elephant safari. To travel on the
lake boats are available for hire. The winter and early summer are the best
times to visit Periyar.
Location: 180 kms from
Cochin, 140 kms from Madurai, adjacent to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
How to Get Here : Air : Cochin (200 km) or
Madurai (TN) (140 km)
Rail : Kottayam (114 km)
House
Boat