Location
Periyar
Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the district of Kumily, in the southern
Indian state of Kerala.
An Overview
The Periyar National Park, situated in God's Own Country, Kerala was formed
in the year 1895. This 777 sq. km. long sanctuary came under the Project
Tiger Scheme in the year 1972. Though it is popular for its tiger reserve,
but the elephants in the park is the major attraction among the tourists. It
is also known as the Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary and is one of the best
place in South India for watching wildlife in their natural habitat.
Climate & Ideal Time to Visit
The park experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year. During
summer(March - June), the temperature varies between 21 & 24 degrees C.
Winters are pleasant and cool. The months from October to June is the best
time to visit the park.
Entry Fee
The park charges an entry fee of Rs 50 for foreigners and Rs 5 for Indians.
Separate entry fee is also required for taking vehicle inside the park.
Wildlife Attraction
»
Flora - The park consists of tropical evergreen thick forest with grass
land, which makes a perfect habitat for many of its animal species.
» Fauna - Periyar is one of the best habitat for
tigers, elephant, gaur, sambar, barking deer, wild dog, nilgir tahr, langur,
which can be seen on a large scale.
» Avi-fauna - The park is also home to a variety of
bird life including the Kingfisher, Malabar Hornbill, Drongoes, Darter and
cormorants.
Activities
The parks offers several activities inside it. A boat cruise on the Periyar
lake is the best option for wildlife viewing in Periyar. Trekking or walking
through the park is another exciting activity that the park offers.
Accommodation
Forest Rest Houses and hotels runs by Kerala tourism along with some jungle
lodges and resorts at Kumli provide good accommodation facilities. PWD Rest
houses near the park also has facilities for tourist accommodation.
Nearby Attraction
»
Cardamom Hills - Visitors can easily explore the beautiful Cardamom
hills of Kerala, especially at Periyar and Kumily. Jeeps and taxis are
available with experienced guides for this trip.
Access
» Air - Madurai is the nearest airport at a distance
of 140 km from the park. The other one is in Kochi at 200km away.
» Rail - The nearest rail head is at Kottyam, which
is about 120 kms away from the park.
» Road - The park is well connected to the major
cities and towns of Kerala by state and private run buses with a well
maintained roadways. Some major road distances are : Kumily(4km),
Madurai(140km), Kochi(200km), Kottayam(114km).
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