Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary falls in the Pathananthitta and Idukki district of Kerala. It is famous for the elephant and tiger reserve. This national park forms part of the protected area which has a total area of 925 Sq.km. The Periyar wildlife Sanctuary which occupies 350 Sq.km came into existence in 1982.

History

The first step towards the protection of the wild life and conservation of flora and fauna of the area was initiated in 1934 by the then Maharaja of Travancore. He officially declared the area around the Periyar Lake as private game reserve for protection of the animals against poaching and encroachment of the area by the people involved in tea plantations. The game reserve was named as Nellikkampatty Game Reserve. Some of the other important milestones of the Sanctuary are:

1950 - Establishment of Periyar as a wildlife sanctuary
1978 - Tiger Reserve was formed
1991 - Elephant Reserve was formed
2004 - Periyar Foundation was established
2011 - Periyar Tiger Reserve assessed as "very good" by Union Ministry for Forest and National Authority for Tiger Conservation

Climate and Best Time to Visit

Monsoon months from June to September bring lot of rains. The temperature in winter and summer remains at an average of 15° Celsius and 30° respectively. Few spells of rain is also experienced through the northeast monsoon in October and December months. The ideal time to visit the sanctuary is from October to June.

However, if you are an animal enthusiast and trek lovers you can plan to visit during March-April which are the dry period. These periods are considered best for spotting animals which spend majority of their time cooling off in nearby lakes.

How to Reach

By Air

The nearest airport is located in Madurai at a distance of 140 km. However, Kochi International Airport located at a distance of 190 km is well connected with various national and international destinations through numerous low fare airlines.

By Rail

Kottayam railway station which is a main station in the southern railway is located at a distance of 114 km. Tourists can avail car, jeep and bus facility to reach the sanctuary from Kottayam Railway station.

By Road

The nearest town to the Sanctuary is Kumily at a distance of 4 km. It is well connected with private and KSRTC buses from important towns in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Wildlife

Flora

There are basically four types of forest regions found in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. They are Tropical Evergreen forests, Moist Deciduous Forests, Woody grasslands and Semi-evergreen forests. Apart from this the swampy areas in the park contains tall weeds which provides adequate cover for the large wild animals to wander without any fear.

There are approximately 2000 varieties of plants identified by the Kerala Forest Research Institute inside the park.  Some of the abundantly found trees include teak, Sandalwood, Eucalyptus, Rosewood, Tamarind, Banyan, Gulmohar, Jamun and Mango.

The open grasslands are full of juicy, nourishing grass which is ideal for various herbivore animals including elephants and deer. 

 Fauna

The park has more than 35 varieties of mammals including several endangered species. The elephants and tiger are the main variety. Wild boar, Sambar and gaur are the other mammals.

More than 250 varieties of birds are found in the park. The prominent ones include Brahminy kite, Nilgiri wood pigeon, Black necked stork, Malabar Grey Hornbill and Oriental Darter.

Several varieties of Reptiles like snakes, lizards and turtles are found in the park. King cobra and Viper are the deadliest snakes found here.

There are approximately 40 varieties of fish and 160 butterfly varieties in the park.

Administration of Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

The headquarters of the sanctuary is at Thekkady in Kottayam district. There are two Deputy Directors for Periyar (East & West each) looking after the activities of the Park. Apart from this there is a Field Director exclusively for the Tiger Reserve.

Accommodation

Forest Department and Kerala tourism department managed guest houses are available in the park premises. Tourists can make advance booking for the same through Wildlife Information Centre.

Jungle Lodge Aranya Nivas is located amidst excellent wildlife near the peaceful Periyar Lake. It is an excellent place for people who want to enjoy the stay in a Jungle. This lodge gives the tourists a perfect feel of the forest. Some of the other KTDC owned guest houses are Periyar House and Lake Palace.

Apart from this there are several private hotels, cottages, resorts and club houses offering excellent accommodation. 

General Information

Fees

Fees for Periyar Tiger Reserve:

• Foreigners: Rs 300
• Indians: Rs 25
• Camera: Rs. 25
• Video Camera: Rs. 200
• Vehicle Entry: Rs. 50
• Boat Cruise: The fare for the boats varies as per size in the range of Rs. 50 - Rs. 350 for a two hours trip
• Elephant Ride: Timings: 1000 Hrs to 1700 Hrs, Duration: 30 mins, Fare: Rs. 30 per person Activities that can be undertaken in the Park include enjoying tribal life, trekking, bamboo rafting, wildlife watch and lake cruises.

Visiting Timings

The Periyar wild life sanctuary is open round the year for tourists between 6 am to 6 pm.

Nearby Attractions from Thekkady

• Kurisumala: This place provides beautiful view of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Kumily village. Must visit place for trekkers and adventure tourism lovers.
• Kumily: It is the nearest town to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary located at a distance of 4 km. It is a popular shopping area for spices and other forest products.
• Murikkady: An excellent place worth visiting for plantation enthusiasts. This place located at a distance of 5 km from the park is full of pepper, cardamom and coffee plantations.
• Pandikuzhi: Located at a distance of 10 km from Thekkady, is a popular picnic spot with picturesque locations and wide range of flora.
• Vandiperiyar: Located at a distance of 18 km, this town has numerous tea factories and Agriculture farms of the Kerala government. Visitors can see various types of orchids, roses and anthuria.
• Pullumedu: This astounding place which is the centre of attraction for Makara jyothi of Sabarimala Temple has excellent flora and lush green meadows.

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