PERIYARNATIONAL PARK

Periyar with its cool chimes and agreeable greenery has a wide zone for travellers to chill out. This pride destination in southern India is boosted with serene surroundings and startling sights and the reason to visit Periyar are for its wildlife scene. Periyar National Park is set high in the mountains and sprawls over the Western Ghats. This National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border and here, you can feel the presence of serenity and excitement amidst the wilderness.

Periyar is part of Thekkady which is in Idukki district and it is a heady mix of mystic mountains, sprawling spice plantation and rich biodiversity. A holiday vacation in this deciduous forest area can satiate anyone's senses. One can't afford to miss this part of Kerala. Located on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, Periyar with its cool chimes and agreeable greenery has a wide zone for travellers to chill out. This must visit place Periyar is small, serene and startling, the land is blessed with natural beauty and this picturesque hill station holds great opportunity for treks and mountain walks. For gratifying sightseeing tours in Periyar, this abode has a thing or two that will lift your spirits high.

There are multiple options to explore in Thekkady and one of the perfect places for nature sights is Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of the largest and most visited wildlife reserves in Kerala. Transverse over the cascading waters of Periyar Lake and witness the scenic view of the sanctuary like never before. Periyar National Park is a perfect example of nature's bounty along with rich biodiversity. Periyar is also famous for spice plantation and it has an abundance of holy temples that attracts both the nature lovers as well as the spiritual people.

Flora of Periyar National Park

The park is covered with moist deciduous forest, tropical evergreen forest and eucalyptus groves. There are more than 171 species of grasses in the park. 140 species of orchids can be found here. Elephant grass covers most of the grasslands in this park. Top flora to spot in this part are teak, mangoes, rosewood, jamun, jacarandas, terminalias, tamarind, royal ponciana, bamboos, Indian conifer, plumerias, sacred fig, sandalwood, medicinal gloriosa lily and others. Many medicinal plants are found in this region. The park also covers agricultural regions, which includes coffee, cardamom and tea plantations.

Fauna of Periyar National Park

There are 35 major mammals in this park. This includes many threatened species like elephants and tigers about 24 Bengal tigers are found here. Top mammals to spot here are white tiger, Indian elephants, flying squirrel, wild pig, sambar, gaur, fruit bat, Nilgiri marten, Nilgiri langur, sloth bear, jungle cat and others. More than 266 species of birds can be spotted in this park. This includes numerous migration birds too. Top birds to spot in the park are Malabar grey hornbill, white bellied blue flycatcher, sunbird, great hornbill, Sri Lanka frogmouth, black necked stork, oriental darter, brahminy kite, little spiderhunter, eagle owl, Nilgiri wood pigeon and others. New bird species like steppe gull, paddyfield warbler, grey-necked bunting and others are recently spotted in this park.

5 species of reptiles are found in the park. This includes turtles, lizards and snakes. Top reptiles to spot are striped coral snake, Malabar pit viper, king cobra and others. Top amphibians to spot in the park are Malabar gliding frog, bicolored frog, Asian toad and others. In the lakes and rivers found in the park, about 40 species of fishes are found. Top fishes are Priyar barb, Periyar trout, channa barb, Travancore loach and others.

Best Season to Visit Periyar National Park

December to March is the right time due to lack of rain and very mild temperature. The animals, migration birds and butterflies are easier to spot during this season. Photography tours are best when taken during this time.

Climate of Periyar National Park

The temperature ranges from 15 degree C to 31 degree C. The highest temperature is found during Aril and May and the lowest is experienced in December. June to September is the monsoon season, which provides average rainfall. October to December also gets rainfall due to the northeast monsoon. Heavy to moderately mild rainfall can be experienced during this season.

Summer: The summer season starts in March and ends in May. Though it is easy to spot animals that come to quench the thirst near the lake, the climate will be hot and dehydrating. Evening safari tours are common during summer. The temperature can go as high as 36 degree C and the vegetation would be lean.

Monsoon: Monsoon season is the worst time to visit the park. Water activities might be stopped due to heavy rains. The animals would be hard to spot and many interesting safaris to many regions inside the park would be restricted.

Winter: October to March is the winter season in Thekkady. The water bodies will be rich with water. The vegetation will be lush with recent rains. The temperature will be mild and showers, if any will be very mild. Many flowering plants will be at bloom during this season. Animals can be spotted with their small ones and, many migration birds are easy to spot. Rafting and boat cruise would be more interesting due to recent rains.

How to Reach Periyar National Park

By Air:

Kochi (Cochin) at 200-kms or Madurai in Tamil Nadu at140-kms are nearest airports from Periyar.

By Rail:

Kottayam at 114-kms is the nearest railhead from Periyar.

By Road:

Kumily, the nearest town from Periyar is well served by both state and private buses from Kottayam, Ernakulam and Madurai in Tamil Nadu. After heavy rains, chances of good wildlife sightings are very slim as the animals only come to the lake, when water sources inside the forest have dried up.So visit this magnificent wildlife sanctuary.