Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary

Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is protected area in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta in Kerala .It is located in the hills of the Western Ghats spreading over an area of 675 sq.km.It was declared as a Tiger Reserve in 1978.In 1982 this place is Developed and declared as Periyar National Park The park is often called the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary or also known as the Thekkady Wildlife sanctuary. The Periyar tiger reserve is considered as one of the best managed reserve in India.Periyar is one of the 27 tiger reserves in India and spread over an area of 925 Sq .km.

Best time to visit the Periyar Sanctuary in the month of November – April. The sanctuary is a major tourism center in Kerala and attracts a very large number of tourists each year. The Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady, recently listed as one of the two best tiger reserves in the country by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has made a giant step towards fulfilling a long-cherished dream.

Some of the famous tea gardens are also located around this place.Boating and trekking at the Thekkady Wildlife reserve is a memorable experience.Major attractions of Periyar wildlife sanctuary are boat voyage on the lake, elephant ride, trekking, wildlife photography and bird watching.There are 1800 flowering plants including 171 grass species and 143 species of orchids, 35 species of mammals and 265 varieties of bird species.Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is a rare and endangered flora and fauna. The Wild animals such as elephants, gaurs, langur, sambar deer, Malabar giant squirrel, flying squirrel, Cobra, viper, krait, hombill, stork, woodpecker, kingfisher, raptor, darter, cormorant, grackle, cluster etc in-habitat here.Periyar is home to one of India’s largest Tiger populations.

How to ReachPeriyar National Park :

By Train: Kottayam Railway Station is nearest railway station about 114Kms ,Changanassery Railway station is about 120Kms, Ernakulam railway station is located about 190Kms.and Madurai is located about 135Kms form the Periyar National Park

By Bus: Direct bus links to / from Thiruvananthapuram, Cochin, Kottayam, Munnar & Madurai.

By Airport: Cochin International Airport is located 190Kms, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is about 267Kms and Madurai airport is located about 140Kms from the Periyar National Park.