Overview
Periyar Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary is home to some of the most exotic and rich biodiversity and possesses exceptional scenic beauty. It is one of the most popular parks in southern India, primarily because of its notable reserve of elephants and tigers. It is a classic illustration of nature’s bounty and sets the watershed of two important rivers of Kerala, the Pamba and the Periyar. The views from the park are extremely utopic as it is set high at Cardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills of the Western Ghats, adjacent to the border with Tamil Nadu.
Information
Periyar National Park is a preserved area located in the districts of Pathanamthitta and Idukki in Kerala, India. The Park is spread over an area of 925 km² of which the core zone of 305 km² was declared as the Periyar National Park in the year 1982. The topography consists of sheer and rolling hills. The smartest way to observe this majestic view is by staying in the resorts in Periyar National Park that aim to blend comfort and adventure simultaneously.
- Size – 305 km²
- Forest Type – Moist deciduous and tropical evergreen forests
Star Species
The park is made up of moist deciduous and tropical evergreen forests, grasslands and possesses a lake and river, for its biodiversity. It holds many valleys of a tropical evergreen forest with extremely thick trees. It is surrounded by agricultural regions, especially the crops of cardamom, coffee, and tea. It is an elephant and tiger reserve that consists about 266 species of birds including native as well as migrants and 35 species of mammals. Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary are one of its kind, offering alluring and stunning views and wildlife sights to make people feel enchanted with the beauty of the park.
- Key Mammals – Indian Giant, Bengal Tiger, White Tiger, Travancore, Sambar, Asian Elephant, Gaur, Nilgiri Langur, Nilgiri Tahr
- Key Birds – Nilgiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Thrush, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Black-Necked Stork, Oriental Darter, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Crimson-Backed Sunbird, Malabar Grey Hornbill
How to reach
- By Train – The closest railway station to Periyar National Park is Kottayam at a distance of 114kms. Kottayam connects to almost all the other cities via rails. Once you get down at the station, you can use any local transport to reach the park.
- By Air – The nearest international airports are situated in Kochi (Cochin) at 200kms or Madurai in Tamil Nadu at 140kms from the park. Both these airports are air linked to all the major airports in the country and outside the country. Once you get down from the airport, you can hire a cab or a taxi to reach the Periyar National Park.
- By Road – The park is smoothly connected via roads. The towns surrounding the park are served well by both public and private bus services, or you can also use local taxi services or hire a cab to make your journey more memorable. Major cities that are well connected to Periyar National Park via road include Kumily (4kms), Kottayam (100kms), Madurai (110kms) and Kochi (120kms).
Safari Zones
In Periyar, the forest department offers jeep safari, elephant safari to explore the enchanting wilderness of the sanctuary. Boat cruises on periyar lake are also an unique wilderness experience.
The Periyar lake provides excellent spots for wildlife sighting to tourists who choose to boat.
- Boat Cruise Safari Timings : 7:25 AM, 9:15 AM, 11:15 AM, 1:30 PM, 4:00 PM
- Jeep Safari Timings :
- Night safari : 11.00 PM to 03.00 AM
- Full Day Safari : Max 03.00 PM Last entry
- Elephant Safari : Every day for Half an Hour: 06.00 A.M. to 05.00 P.M.
Weather
| Month | Min. Temp (°C) | Max. Temp (°C) |
| January | 15 | 25 |
| February | 16 | 26 |
| March | 17 | 27 |
| April | 18 | 27 |
| May | 19 | 31 |
| June | 18 | 25 |
| July | 17 | 24 |
| August | 24 | 17 |
| September | 17 | 25 |
| October | 17 | 24 |
| November | 16 | 24 |
| December | 15 | 24 |
Things to carry
Clothing tips for the right safari experience:
- Clothes in the earthy colours to be worn which are greens, beige and grey. Black attracts mosquitoes and should be avoided. Shiny or bright colours are a big no.
- Clothes as per expected weather are very important:
- Summer clothes to be carried should be preferably cotton or cotton blend that is comfortable, breathable.
- Winter clothes to be packed should be planned for layering over each other when worn. Advisably 4-5 woollen clothes than one heavy item.
- A raincoat or a windcheater is also recommended.
- A hat or a cap as per the weather or season is also prescribed.
- Avoid wearing strong fragrances on the safari.
Gallery
