Periyar Sanctuary Travel Guide
Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Indian state of Kerala. Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is the pride of the state of Kerala.
Set on the banks of the attractive Periyar lake, the 780 sq km sanctuary was created by the old Travancore State government in 1934, 350 sq km of the park has been declared as the core area. The park is located along the border of Tamil Nadu.
Periyar is set high in the Pandalam Hills and Cardamom Hills on the Western Ghats. Altitude of the park ranges from 3900 ft to 5600 ft. Kottamalai (6625 ft) is the highest peak of the area.
Permission is strictly needed to visit this sanctuary. Periyar Sanctuary is famous for the vast variety of species of mammals, birds,reptiles,insects, fishes and amphibians that are housed here. It is recorded that there are 62 different variety of mammals found here, 320 types of birds, 45 types of reptiles, 27 types of amphibians, 38 types of fishes and 160 types of butterflies are found as per the survey made by the authorities here.
How to Reach Periyar
Thekkady is the only gate to reach Periyar tourism zone. The national park entry gate is only 2-3 km from here.
- By Air – madurai International Airport is 136 km from Thekkady. It is connected through both national and international flights.
- By Rail – Kottayam is the nearest Rail head located 114 km from Thekkady.
- By Road – Madurai, Bangalore, Chennai are connected through regular bus services with Thekkady.
Distance of Periyar Sanctuary from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Thekkady |
3 |
|
Kottayam |
114 |
|
Kodaikanal |
150 |
|
Madurai |
140 |
|
Thiruvananthapuram |
170 |
Weather
Periyar Sanctuary Temperature
- Summer (Mar to May) – Temperatures are high and range between (19°C) to (29°C)
- Monsoon – (Jun to Sep) – With heavy rainfall happening at regular basis, this is not a good season for tourists
- Winter – (Oct to Feb) – Temperatures are mild and range between (17°C) to (26°C)
- Best Time to Visit – Oct to Feb is the best season for tourism
What to See In Periyar
Periyar Sanctuary is one of the most renowned sanctuaries all over in world. The park is set high in the Pandalam Hills and Cardamom Hills on the Western Ghats. Permission is needed to visit this sanctuary. Periyar Sanctuary is famous for the vast variety of species of mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, fishes and amphibians that are house here. It is recorded that there are 62 different variety of species of mammals are found here. 320 types of birds, 45 types of reptiles, 27 types of amphibians, 38 types of fishes and 160 types of butterflies are found as per the survey made by the authorities here.
As it is a tropical rain forest, huge varieties of flowers and flowering plants are found here. Elephants, bison, sambar, wild boar, spotted deer are the common animals found here. Though the sanctuary was designated as a part of project tiger in 1973, it is better known for its elephants. Most elephants here are tusk less. A motor launch trip on the lake is a wonderful experience. There are also special viewing platforms which maintain a safe distance from the wild animals. There is an old stone temple called Mangladevi temple which is almost ruined here in the heart of the forest.
It is a beautiful garden where one can see spices growing naturally in their native environment.
It is a nature lover’s delight for being a rare place where scenic beauty is undisturbed by inlet of modernism. It is a famous biodiversity spot. The wildlife varieties seen here include Nilgiri Tahr and Lion Tailed Macaque.
It is a hilly area lying parallel to the river. Upon the hills, one can observe a lush green belt of rarely found plants, marked by brightly colored flowers.
It is a hilly rural area, situated at an altitude of 3500 ft over the sea level upon the Western Ghats. It has great mythological significance. The term actually refers to the Land of Rama’s stone or the Land where Rama kept his leg. It is believed that Sri Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu had been to this place while seeking for Sita.
It is an important tourist attraction for one may get an eagle view image that is a sharp clarified image of the underlying green forested region. The colossal rock formations spread all over the region are quite attractive. One of the rock formations resembles the portrait of Rabindra Nath Tagore.
Other Details
What to Do
- Boating and Cruising along Periyar Lake
- Jungle walks—around 5 km walk with a guide around the Sanctuary
- Explore the Eco tourism Centre—organized by the Forest Department
Where to Eat
- Chrissy’s Cafe —Coffee, cake, snacks, pizza and pasta, you ask for it and it’s all there.
- Ebony’s Cafe —Mashed potato to pasta and cold beer, this cozy little cafe is meant for all the travelers out there.
- Shri Krishna — Pure Indian veg meals served here. One of the local favorites.
What to Buy
Nothing much you can buy from here except Kerala Spices
Get Around
Walking or moving by boat along the Periyar Lake is the means to exploring this land.
Popular Tour Plans - Kerala
1-3 Days
1. Munnar (2N/3D)
2. Alleppey (2N/3D)
4-6 Days
1. Ooty-Kodaikanal-Munnar (6N/7D)
7-10 Days
1. Kochi-Munnar-Alleppey-Kovalam-Thiruvanathapuram (8N/9D)
2. Munnar-Alleppey-Periyar Sanctuary-Kovalam-Kanyakumari (10N/11D)
3. Alleppey-Kovalam-Kanyakumari-Thiruvananthapuram (7N/8D)
>10 Days
1. Chennai-Pondicherry-Madurai-Rameswaram-Kanyakumari-Kovalam (12N/13D)