Location
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the district of Kumily, in the southern Indian state of Kerala.


An Overview
The Periyar National Park, situated in God's Own Country, Kerala was formed in the year 1895. This 777 sq. km. long sanctuary came under the Project Tiger Scheme in the year 1972. Though it is popular for its tiger reserve, but the elephants in the park is the major attraction among the tourists. It is also known as the Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary and is one of the best place in South India for watching wildlife in their natural habitat.


Climate & Ideal Time to Visit
The park experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year. During summer (March - June), the temperature varies between 21 & 24 degrees C. Winters are pleasant and cool. The months from October to June is the best time to visit the park.


Wildlife Attraction
» Flora - The park consists of tropical evergreen thick forest with grass land, which makes a perfect habitat for many of its animal species.

» Fauna - Periyar is one of the best habitat for tigers, elephant, gaur, sambar, barking deer, wild dog, nilgir tahr, langur, which can be seen on a large scale.

» Avi-fauna - The park is also home to a variety of bird life including the Kingfisher, Malabar Hornbill, Drongoes, Darter and cormorants.


Activities

The parks offers several activities inside it. A boat cruise on the Periyar lake is the best option for wildlife viewing in Periyar. Trekking or walking through the park is another exciting activity that the park offers.

Nearby Attraction
» Cardamom Hills - Visitors can easily explore the beautiful Cardamom hills of Kerala, especially at Periyar and Kumily. Jeeps and taxis are available with experienced guides for this trip.


Access
» Air - Madurai is the nearest airport at a distance of 140 km from the park. The other one is in Kochi at 200km away.

» Rail - The nearest rail head is at Kottyam, which is about 120 kms away from the park.

» Road - The park is well connected to the major cities and towns of Kerala by state and private run buses with a well maintained roadways. Some major road distances are : Kumily(4km), Madurai(140km), Kochi(200km), Kottayam(114km).