Periyar National Park

Even though the access town to Periyar National Park is Kumily (interchangeably used with Thekkady), the tourist flow is centered around the forest and nothing else. It is the single most draw of the destination. There are several options to explore the national park for a wildlife filled holiday. Spread over an area of dense 305 sq km, the national park and wildlife sanctuary is skirted by low mountain ridges, which contain thick tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests, wide grasslands and copses of local trees. A network of river systems run inside thereby keeping the population of flora and fauna rife. The semi submerged dry trees in the middle of the lake offer the trademark landscape of Periyar National Park. It is recommended to reach out to the Eco Tourism Centre run by the forest department in Thekkady, which organises nature walks, green walks, jungle scouting, bamboo rafting, border hiking, overnight stays in the jungle and four trips inside the Periyar sanctuary on a motor boat. Of these, the bamboo rafting is the most scenic and private of the lot. One can often spot wild hogs, deer, gaur, Indian giant squirrel, sambar, Travancore flying squirrel, jungle cat, sloth bear, Nilgiri Tahr, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, Salim Ali's fruit bat, stripe-necked mongoose, Nilgiri marten and elephants in the jungle. If you are lucky, you may also spot a tiger at the banks of the lake. Bookings should be done well in advance, even for short trips into the jungle.

Note: The Eco Tourism Centre: Ambadi Junction, Thekkady; nature walk/green walk 800/- for 4 persons, 7 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 2.5–3 hours; Jungle scout 1500/- for 2, 7 pm, 10 pm; Bamboo rafting 3000/- for 2, 8 am–5 pm; Border hiking 4000/- for 4, 8 am–5 pm; Tiger trail 6000/- for 1, overnight stay; boating 150/- for 1, cameras 25/-; adults/children/foreigners/foreigners children Rs 25/15/310/110