PERIYAR NATIONAL PARK- WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES

Situated close to the Kerala -Tamil Nadu border town of Kumily, it is located about 257 kmfrom Trivandrum, 114 km from Madurai Airport, 185 km from Cochin International Airport and 114 km from Kottayam railway station. The Periyar National Park also is famous for its dense evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests and savanna grass lands. It is home to herds of elephants, sambar, tigers, gaur, lion-tailed Macaques and Nilgiri Langurs.

Periyar National Park spread across 777 km2 (300 sq. miles), of which 360 km2 (139 sq. miles) is thick evergreen forest. The Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River adds to the charm of the park. The greatest attraction of Periyar are the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake. If elephants are what you love to see on your wildlife tour, there is no better place than the Periyar National Park in Kerala. The sanctuary established in 1895 and is one of the oldest wildlife sanctuaries in India. The sanctuary also declared a tiger reserve in 1978. HoweverPeriyar National Park (also known as the Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary) is one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in India and perhaps the finest in south India.

About Periyar National Park

Periyar National Park is also a Tiger Reserve, the greatest attractions of the park are the herds of wild elephants, who come to the Periyar Lake to frolic in the water. The Periyar National Park also is the only wildlife sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. You can also enjoy elephant rides in the Periyar National Park. However the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary also offers the unique opportunity to photograph wild animals at close quarters.