South Tourism branch office set up is wide spread across South India.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
The Periyar National Park is situated amid high hills of the Western Ghat, near Thekkady, in God's Own Country, Kerela. Spanning over an area of about 5,500 hectares of land, it has a scenic Periyar lake, formed by the construction of a dam on the Periyar River in 1895, at the heart of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Known for its tigers, the Park is also one of the 16 Project Tiger Reserves in India.
Best time to Visit
The best season to visit Periyar National Park is between October to June. However, the month of March and April is the most appropriate time to visit, as they constitute the driest part of the year. Due to this reason, many animals spend ample time near the Periyar lake. Even the tiger can be spotted approaching the waters in the Park through motorboat rides or from watchtowers set up in the National Park.
How to reach there ?
» By Air - The nearest national airports are Cochin (200 km) and Madurai (140 km).
» By Rail - The nearest major rail junction is Kottayam (117 km) on the Ernakulam-Thiruvananthapuram line.
» By Road -Periyar is well connected by bus service from the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram (271 km), as well as the cities of Cochin (200 km), Kottayam (117 km), and Madurai (140 km).
Travelling in Periyar National Park
The forest department arranges for an adventurous travelling experience for tourists on a tamed elephant's back. Tourists can also take a boat ride on Periyar Lake and watch the elephants, deer and other animals on the lake's edge, from nearby.
Major Attractions of Wildlife Sanctuary
» Flora - The forests of Periyar are tropical and a melange of deciduous, semi-evergreen, and evergreen 'sholas'. The evergreen 'sholas' occur in the moist valleys and is characterized by tall trees and a closed canopy. The forests alternate with extensive patches of grasslands during Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
» Fauna- Periyar National Park is famous for its pachydem population, which are about 800 in number and can be easily spotted here. The park's rich bird life consists of over 200 varieties of birds including the Giant Hornbill, Cormorant, Darter, Osprey and Racket-tailed Drongo. Large herds of Indian Elephant and the Nilgiri Langur can be easily spotted. Among the park's reptilian fauna the Indian Python and King Cobra are the most common. Other animals like Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Dole or Indian Wild Dog can be spotted here.
Accommodation Facilities
The available means of accommodation for tourists are Periyar House, Aranya Niwas, in the tourist complex area, and Lake Palace at Edapalayam, besides several forest rest houses.
Nearby Cities
Nearby cities are Kottayam (117 km), Madurai (140 km), Cochin (200 km) and Thiruvananthapuram (271 km).