Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Situated within the confines of the Western Ghats in the southern
Indian state of Kerala, Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is
one of the most captivating wildlife parks in the world. The picturesque
lake in the heart of the sanctuary was originally 26 sq km but now
spans an area of 55 sq km. This perennial source of water, which initially
led to the submersion of large tracts of forestland, slowly attracted
wild animals. It eventually resulted in the adjoining forests being
granted protection by the Maharajah of Travancore.
Periyar (also Thekkady) is a park where one can witness playful pachyderms,
whose population is currently around 800. The population of tigers
is also increasing appreciably. The terrain ranges from hilly to flat
grassland areas at the edges of the lakes. The vegetation is of moist
deciduous type.
The months of March and April constitute the driest part of the year,
because of which the animals spend a lot of time near the lake in
the Periyar National Park. Even the tiger may be spotted approaching
the waters in the Periyar National Park. Animals may be seen from
motorboats on the lake or from watch towers set up in the Periyar
National Park. There is a good chance of spotting an occasional tiger
in this relatively peaceful corner at the Periyar National Park.
Wildlife Attraction in Periyar National Park
Elephant
While at Periyar you just cannot miss enjoying the Fauna. Periyar
and elephants are synonymous and one cannot be thought of without
the other. Herds of playful wild elephants have made Periyar Lake
their favourite haunt for frolicking in the water. Scores of them
can be witnessed bathing and swimming here. The Indian female elephants
do not possess tusks like their African relatives. They are also not
as swarthy as their African counterparts.
Avian Population
Some 260 species of birds are found at Periyar. These include darters,
cormorants, ibises, grey herons, mynas, flycatchers, orioles, wood
pigeons, kingfishers, kites, ospreys, thrushes, and an appreciable
number of blue-winged parakeets.
Other Residents
Other inhabitants of Periyar include the leopard, wild dog, barking
deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur (a primate), bonnet macaque, sambhar,
porcupines, squirrels, gaur (Indian bison), wild boar, and sloth bear.
There are approximately 40 tigers in the area as per the latest census.
The tigers, along with the Nilgiri tahrs (a kind of a wild goat),
are elusive creatures. However, an early morning visit, with luck
on one's side, can yield positive results.
Fauna Attractions
The flora here is composed mainly of marshy grasslands. The forests
are a mixture of grasslands, fire-resistant low-growth vegetation,
deciduous forests, semi-evergreens, and tropical evergreens. It is
good to be cautious of the blood-sucking leeches that are found in
plenty here
Safaris
Boat rides offered on the Periyar lake provide you with the best chance
of observing wild life. Sightings of large herds of elephants and
other animals are quite frequent during boat rides. The timings for
boat rides are 7, 9, 11 AM & 2, 4 PM.
Other Attractions
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve offers plenty of
opportunities for recreation and enjoyment. One can swim in the lake
or get permits for angling that are easily available from the forest
Officer in Thekkady. Boat rides on the lake are definitely a must,
and motor launches are available throughout the day from 6 am to 4
pm. Exhilarating treks through the forest to the temple of Mangla
Devi can also be organised. Lectures on wildlife preservation are
organized regularly at the park and these can be of help in understanding
the wild creatures and their environment. Late afternoon is just right
for another walk down the lakeside. The evening walk along the lake
is always tinged with forebodings of danger combined with exhilaration
at being in such a beautiful place.
How to get there
By Air : The park is accessible from Kochi and Madurai airports. Indian
Airlines operates daily Delhi-Cochin (8:00), Mumbai-Cochin (11:05),
Bangalore-Cochin (13:00) and Chennai-Cochin flights
By Rail : The nearest major rail junction to the Periyar National
Park is Kottayam, connected to Delhi through the Kerala Exp. (11:30,
Daily) to Mumbai through Kanyakumari Exp. (15:45, Daily) to Bangalore
through Kanyakumari Exp. (22:00, Daily) and Chennai through Trivandrum
Mail (20:00) & Trivandrum Exp. (16:15).
By Road : The Periyar National Park is well connected by bus service
to the state capital Thiruvananthapuram (271 km). To access the place
from Cochin, take the NH49 to Thripunithara. From there, state highway
15 will take you to Ettumanur via Keecherry, Thalayolaparambu and
Vaikom. Take the SH1 to Kottayam and finally NH220 to Thekkady via
Kanjirappally, Peermade, Vandiperiyar and Kumily.
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