Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Fact File
» Location from major cities : Madurai (140 kms), Cochin (200 kms)

» Known for : Elephants, Tigers, Nilgiri Tahr

» Climate & the best time to visit : The annual average temperature is in the range of 15 degrees to 31 degrees. The hottest months are April and May. Southwest monsoons brings a lot of rainfall during the June-August period. The mean annual rainfall is 2030mm.

The best time to visit the sanctuary is between October and June


The Park
Amidst the beautiful hill ranges of the beautiful Western Ghats in the picturesque state of Kerala is the Periyar wildlife sanctuary and Tiger Reserve. A beautiful lake passes through the middle of the sanctuary and is the main source of water for its wildlife. The lake was formed after building of a dam in 1895. Though Periyar is basically a Tiger Reserve, the main attractions here are the gigantic elephants. Elephant rides are also the most popular means of exploring the interiors if the sanctuary.

Attractions in the Park
» Avifauna : Many species of local and migratory birds are found in the sanctuary. The commonly spotted species are Darters, Cormorants, Kingfishers, the great Malabar Hornbill and racket-tailed Drongoes. The migratory birds mainly come during winter season.» Flora : The vegetation here mainly comprises of tropical evergreen forests. Semi-evergreen forest cover is also seen in some parts of the park. Most of the areas near the lake are covered by marshy grasslands. One remarkable feature of the flora is that some trees even grow at a height of 130-140 feet.

» Fauna : Elephants are found in large numbers here. There are hundreds of them in the park. Other animals commonly seen in the park are Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer and Indian Wild Dog. Though there are an estimated 40 tigers here, the big cat remains largely elusive. Four species of primates inhabiting the park are Rare lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Common Langur And Bonnet Macaque. Some numbers of the elusive Nilgiri Tahr are also found here. Among the main reptile species are Python, Cobra and the Monitor Lizard. The Monitor Lizard could be seen basking in the sun on most occassions.

Other Places to Visit
» Kumily : Kumily is a beautiful little town located at a distance of 4-kms from Periyar. The place is most famous for its spice trade. The town also has excellent hotels and resorts for accommodation.

» Cradomom Hills : A great view of the lower landscape is available from Cradomom hills. Jeeps and taxis are regularly available to take you to the magnificent hills.


How To Reach
» By Air : There are two airports nearest to the sanctuary. The domestic Madurai airport of Tamil Nadu is located at a distance of 140 kms. The Cochin International airport is located 200-kms from the sanctuary.

» By Rail : Kottayam at 114-kms is the nearest railhead from Periyar.

» By Road : The entry point to the park is Thekkady which is accessible easily by road from both the airports mentioned above. Taxis are available on hire to the park from these places.