Lying amid the lofty Western Ghats, surrounded by lush greenery, Periyar National Park Kerala is one of the most popular national parks in South India. The sanctuary lies around Lake Periyar, which originally was a water reservoir. Declared Project Tiger Reserve in 1978, this national park is known to be the home of tigers, elephants, and the rare Nilgiri tahr along with around 265 species of birds. Floral species and vegetation variety are also found in abundance here. It is also known as Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary and Periyar Tiger Reserve. One of the best ways to explore the sanctuary is through boat safaris. Trekking is another popular activity here.

• Location: Thekkady, around 4 km from Kumily, in the Idukki district of central Kerala
• Coverage Area: 778 square kilometers
• Established in: 1982

All You Need to Know About Periyar National Park Kerala

1. Wildlife in Periyar National Park
2. Wildlife Safari in Periyar National Park + Timings
3. Popular Activities in Periyar National Park
4. Attractions in and around Periyar National Park
5. How to reach Periyar
6. Periyar National Park Timings + Tickets

Wildlife in Periyar National Park

Periyar National Park is famous for its variety of wildlife, rich biodiversity, and lush environs. It is also a tiger reserve and is home to around 40 tigers. Other animals found here are an elephant, jungle cat, wild pig, lion-tailed macaque, gaur, stripe-necked mongoose, Nilgiri langur, Golden Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Indian bison, Indian wild dog, mouse deer, sambar, barking deer, etc. One can spot 49 species of mammals, 112 kinds of butterflies, 9 amphibian species, 28 kinds of reptiles, 22 fish species as well as 265 species of birds. Periyar also houses the elusive Nilgiri Tahr but is quite rare to spot.

Know more about the Famous Eravikulam National Park

Flora                                                                            

Around 1700 m of the landscape of Periyar, adjacent to the north and the east, are covered with the lofty Western Ghats. On the west is a widespread tableland of Mount Plateau, which has an altitude of 1200 m. Thick forest areas of the Sabarimala hills in the basic of River Pamba start from the edge of the plateau.

Wildlife Safari in Periyar National Park

The best way to explore the park is through Periyar national park jeep safari. You can also opt for elephant safari along with boat safari, which is one of the top things to do in Thekkady. Boat cruises in Lake Periyar are the best option to spot wildlife, savor the greenery, and admire the peace. Boat rides are offered by the state’s forest department. Animals like wild boar, elephants, and sambar deer can be spotted on the banks of the Lake. Morning is an ideal time for a wildlife safari.

Periyar National Park Safari Timings

• Boat Cruise:

Boat Safari Ride in Periyar takes place for half an hour. Kerala Forest Department runs 2 boats. Five trips are allowed on a daily basis wherein every trip is of about 90 minutes. 07:30 AM – 09:00 AM, 09:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 11: 5 AM – 12:45 PM, 01:45 PM – 03:15 PM, and 03.30 PM – 05:00 PM

• Jeep Safari:

06:30 AM – 03:00 PM Last entry (Day safari), 11:00 PM – 03:00 AM (Night safari)

• Elephant Safari:

06:00 AM to 05:00 PM (On a daily basis for half an hour)

Popular activities in Periyar National Park

Apart from boat safaris, other popular activities here are border hikes, angling, boa, guided bullock cart ride to visit farmland, camping, guided day trekking, and guided nature walks. A Trek to the temple of Mangla Devi can also be planned. One can also enjoy elephant bathing and feeding.

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Attractions in and around Periyar National Park

This wildlife reserve is ideal not only for wildlife enthusiasts but also for nature lovers. One can explore the Cardamom Hills and the Pandalom Hills to savor the scenic beauty of the place. Popular attractions in and around the Periyar are:

• Periyar Lake

  Located within the boundaries of the national park, the Periyar Lake is the entity after which the reserve was named. Boat safari rides are one of the most popular things to do where one can spot animals quenching their thirst from the lake water.

• Kumily

  Popular for its Cardamom Hills, Kumily is a beautiful small town that is located near Thekkady, in the Idukki district. A visit to this place is quite relaxing and peaceful. The town is dotted with a number of temples and also boasts of scenic beauty in abundance. It is also an important town for the trading of spice.

• Pullumedu

  Known for its green surroundings and exotic wildlife reserve, Pullumedu is located at a distance of just 43 km from Thekkady. Other popular attractions here are Shri Ayappa Temple and the Makara Jyothi temple.

• Mangla Devi Temple

  Around 15 km from Thekkady, Mangla Devi temple is a popular holy site in the region. One of the highlights of this shrine is that it is around 2000 years old. The temple has been built in an ancient Pandyan style of architecture. The temple, on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, lies at an altitude of 1337 m above sea level and thus the views also are wonderful. Prayers are only organized once a time in a year in April/May, on a full moon day.

• Kuttikanam

  Around 41 km from Thekkady, Kuttikanam is a peaceful place that lies at an altitude of 3500 feet above sea level. Boasting a wonderful climate, it was the summer resort of European traders and the Maharajas of Travancore.

• Mundakayam

  Known to be the main ‘Gateway to Thekkady’, Mundakayam is a dream-like destination with mist-clad surroundings and green hills. Let the cool breeze brush past your face.

Wildlife lover? Also check out the Top 10 Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks in Kerala

Best time to visit Periyar

Periyar National Park is open all around the year, unlike many other Indian national parks. However, the best time to visit the Periyar Tiger Reserve is between the months of September and May, as the weather is ideal at this time. Elephants can be spotted in March and April months. Periyar is one of the handfuls of national parks in India that remain open during the monsoon season. Boat safaris and trekking can be enjoyed at this time.

Planning a trip to Periyar? Here’s the best time to visit Periyar National Park

How to reach Periyar

• By Air:

The nearest airports to Periyar are Madurai Airport and Cochin International Airport, which are 140 km and 190 km away respectively.

• By Rail:

The nearest railway station is the Kottayam railway station, which is 114 km away.

• By Road:

Kumily is the nearest town to Periyar, which receives a good amount of state as well as private buses from different destinations from Kerala like Kottayam, Ernakulam, etc., and Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

Know How to Reach Periyar National Park

Periyar National Park Timings

The ticket counter opens at 06: AM and the sale of tickets begin at 06.30 AM. Tickets are sold only till 05:00 PM. Tourists are required to come out of the national park by 05.30 PM. The ticket counter for boating opens 90 minutes before the start of every trip.

Periyar National Park Tickets 

• Entry- Foreigner (Adult / Child) – INR 300 / INR 105, Indian (Adult who are above 11 years / Child) – INR 25 / INR 5

• Camera– Video Camera – INR 300, Still Camera – INR 30

• Vehicle – Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) – INR 50, Heavy vehicles – INR 200, Two-wheelers – INR 25

• Boating ticket – INR 50 (student and children between 5 and 11 years of age), INR 150 (everyone above 11 years of age)

(Note: Fee is liable to change without any prior information)

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