Periyar National Park

Watching a herd of elephants in a dense forest is sure to invoke the adventurer in you! Come join us on a wildlife tour in Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary with a heightened sense of sight & sound as we navigate through the picturesque forested terrain in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The forest; home to a variety of flora & fauna, a scenic lake, an ancient temple and fragrant cardamom plantations; beckons you for a thrilling adventure.

Topography
Bounded by thickly wooded mountain ridges in the north and the east and a high plateau in the west; the 305sqkm terrain of the park rises and falls dramatically. River Pemba and Periyar originate inside the park and Lake Periyar forms the perennial source of water in the forest.

Vegetation
Thick jungles of tropical evergreens soaring up to 140ft, moist deciduous forests, clusters of eucalyptus towering over marshy grasslands, and plantations of tea, cardamom & coffee constitute the foliage of Periyar National Park.

Inhabitants of Periyar National Park

Mammals and Other Species
Periyar National Park is the dominion of Indian elephants. However it has also been designated a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger. Other animal species here include white tiger, wild pig, sambar, gaur, mouse deer, barking deer, Nilgiri Tahr, Indian giant squirrel, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur and sloth bear.

Birds of Periyar National Park
Around 260 species of birds can be found in Periyar. Malabar grey hornbill, Nilgiri wood pigeon, , Nilgiri flycatcher, crimson-backed sunbird, white-bellied blue flycatcher, little spider hunter, Sri Lankan frogmouth, Oriental darter, Eurasian woodcock, Steppe gull, and black-necked stork are some of the feathery friends that inhabit the forest of Periyar.

Other Attractions in Periyar

Mangala Devi Temple
This ancient hill-top temple located inside Periyar National Park is only open to public during Chitrapournami Festival that generally falls in the months of April or May.

Pullumedu
This grassland overlooks the auspicious Sabarimala Temple and is an important pilgrimage for both Malayali and Tamil people.

Trekking
The mountains of Periyar offer scenic trekking routes like Kurisamala-Kumily Trek and Kumily-Pandikuzhi Trek. However, trekking expeditions need government permission and should be accompanied by a certified guide.

Cardamom Hills
Take a guided tour of these fragrant hills covered with cardamom plantations.

Other Activities
Join in various eco-tourism activities such as nature walks and hikes through the forest with reformed poachers as guides. Try Bamboo rafting, and night time jungle patrols to make your trip even more fascinating.

Wildlife Safari in Periyar National Park
With over 800 elephants, around 40 tigers and other big game, a wildlife safari in Periyar is an exhilarating experience. The park offers you an option of elephant safari, open jeep safari and boat safari on Periyar Lake. Boat safari is one of the best ways to sight animals converging near the lake.

Best Time to Visit
Periyar National Park remains open round-the-year but the peak tourist season is from November to February.

How to Reach
By Air- Cochin International Airport, (160kms) and Madurai Airport,(150kms) are the two closest airports to Periyar National Park.
By Rail- Kottayam, around 100kms away, is the closest railhead to Periyar.
By Road- A well-maintained network of roads & highways from both Kerala and Tamil Nadu connect Periyar National Park with the nearby cities.

Travel with us to this beautiful realm of elephants and watch the majestic beast up-close-and-personal. Do get in touch for our customized Kerala Tour Packages to make the most of your Periyar National Park Tour.