Periyar Tour
Kerala, popularly known and believed as God's Own Country, is an ideal destination for business traveler as well as holidaymaker. One of the most sought after tourist destinations in Asia , Kerala is India's only tropical paradise. The state is blessed with myriad features like dense tropical forests, beautiful beaches, cliffs, rocky coasts, an intricate maze of backwaters, still bays and astounding 44 radiant rivers. One such mesmerizing place in Kerala is Periyar, also known as Thekkady.
About Periyar
Periyar is better known for the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve in Thekkady. Situated high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the 16 Project Tiger Reserves in India. At the heart of the sanctuary is the picturesque Periyar Lake , a major attraction of the region. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir provides continuous water for the local wildlife. Periyar Wildlife Reserve is one of the few places where you can observe elephants in their natural habitats.
Tourist Attractions
Some of the famous tourist attractions in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady are -
- Flora: The tropical, deciduous and semi-evergreen forests are characterized by tall trees and a closed canopy. Extensive patches of grasslands alternate with the forests.
- Fauna: You can see elephants, bisons, antelopes, sambars, wild boars and may be even tigers at the sanctuary. The birdlife includes darters, cormorants, kingfishers, great Malabar hornbills and racket-tailed drongoes.
- Reptiles: Monitor lizards, Pythons, king cobras, flying lizards, flying squirrels, flying snakes and flying frogs are the reptilian inhabitants of this incredible sanctuary.
- Park Trips: The Periyar Lake offers excellent Boat cruises for tourists, enabling you to spot elephants, Wild Boar, and Sambar Deer by the water's edge.
Climate
Best time to visit Periyar is between the months of October and April.
How to reach
To reach Periyar, the nearest Airports are at Cochin (200 km) and Madurai (140 km). The nearest Railway Station is at Kottayam on the Ernakulam-Thiruvananthapuram line. By road, Periyar is connected by bus service from Thiruvananthapuram, Cochin, Kottayam, and Madurai.
Accommodation
Some of the major hotels in Periyar, offering an impressive blend of tradition and modernity, are Spice Village, Lake Palace, Taj Garden Retreat, Aranya Nivas, etc.
