Wildlife in Kerala : Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Thekkady) - 65

Guys, this wildlife sanctuary located in the Idukki district in Kerala. This is one of the most fascinating wildlife sanctuaries and is noted for its geomorphology, diverse wildlife and beautiful landscape. The drive to Thekkady itself is enchanting as the road winds through tranquil countryside, rich plantations and thick jungles. The sanctuary, declared a tiger Reserve in 1978 under the Project Tiger Scheme, attracts travellers from all over the world. This is the only sanctuary in India where the wild elephant can be observed and photographed at close quarters. There are two watchtowers in the Periyar forests.

A boat cruise on the Periyar lake is perhaps the best way to watch the wildlife in the reserve, which includes 35 species - the wild elephant, tiger, panther, wild dog, gaur, Nilgiri langur, sambar, barking deer, wild boar, sloth bear, Nilgiri tahr, lion tailed macaque, otter, Malabar giant squirrel, civet, leopard, etc.

Avifauna:

265 species including migrants. The great Indian hornbill, peafowl, brahminy kite and black-winged kite. Aquatic birds like darter, little cormorant, kingfisher, black necked stork etc. Reptiles like king cobra, Viper, krait, a number of non-poisonous snakes, bi-coloured frogs, tortoise and crocodiles. The Periyar Lake and streams have several species of fish including the Mahseer, the famous endangered game fish of India. The otter, the only mammal of the lake, can be spotted from the boat.

When to visit: October to May. Entry timings: 0600 - 1800 Hrs.

Where to stay:

KTDC Hotels: Aranya Nivas, advance reservation has to be made, Lodging facilities at Kumily.

How to get there:

The entry point to the reserve is Thekkady, which is acessible by good roads from the airports of Madurai (145 kms.), Kochi (190 kms.) and Thiruvananthapuram (272 kms.). The nearest rail head is Kottayam (114 kms.). The nearest town is Kumily (4 kms.)

Contact:

The Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Thiruvananthapuram - 695014, Telefax - 0471 - 322217.

The Wildlife Preservation Officer, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady - 685536, Tel. : 0486 - 322027, 322025, 322028.

Related Links :

01. Nature and WildLife of India : WildLife Protection Act 1972 - 1
02. Wildlife in Jammu and Kashmir - 2
03. Corbett National Park (Project Tiger) : Wildlife in Uttaranchal - 3
04. Rajaji National Park - 4
05. Wildlife in Uttar Pradesh : Dudhwa National Park - 5
06. Wildlife in Rajasthan : Bharatpur National Park - 6
07. Wildlife in Rajasthan : Ranthambore National Park (Project Tiger) - 7
08. Wildlife in Rajasthan : Sariska Tiger Reserve - 8
09. Wildlife in Gujarat : Gir National Park and Sanctuary - 9
10. Wild Ass Sanctuary - 10
11. Wildlife in Madhya Pradesh : Bandhavgarh National Park - 11
12. Wildlife in Madhya Pradesh : Kanha National Park - 12
13. Wildlife in Bihar : Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary - 13
14. Wildlife in Jharkhand : Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary - 14
15. Wildlife in Jharkhand : Palmau Tiger Reserve - 15
16. Wildlife in Jharkhand : Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary - 16
17. Wildlife in West Bengal : Sunderbans National Park and Tiger Reserve - 17
18. Wildlife in West Bengal : Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary - 18
19. Wildlife in Assam : Manas Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve - 19
20. Wildlife in Assam : Kaziranga National Park - 20
21. Wildlife in Arunachal Pradesh : Namdhapa National Park (Project Tiger) - 21
22. Wildlife in Orissa : Tikarpara Gharial Sanctuary - 22
23. Wildlife in Orissa : Ushakotih Wildlife Sanctuary - 23
24. Wildlife in Orissa : Bhitarkanika Sanctuary - 24
25. Wildlife in Orissa : Similipal Tiger Reserve (Project Tiger) - 25
26. Wildlife in Orissa : Nandankanan Biological Park and Chandka Elephant Reserve - 26
27. Wildlife in Orissa : Chilika Lake - 27
28. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Nehru Zoological Park and Kwala Sanctuary - 28
29. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Pranahita Sanctuary - 29
30. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Pakhal Santuary - 30
31. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Kinnerasani Sanctuary - 31
32. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Papikonda Sanctuary - 32
33. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Coringa Sanctuary - 33
34. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Kolleru Sanctuary - 34
35. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Krishna Sanctuary - 35
36. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Pocharam Sanctuary - 36
37. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Manjira Sanctuary and Nagarjunasagar - Srisailam Sanctuary (Project Tiger) - 37
38. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Rollapadu Sanctuary - 38
39. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Gunda Brahmeswaram Sanctuary - 39
40. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Sri Lankamalleswara Sanctuary - 40
41. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Pulicat Sanctuary - 41
42. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Kaundinya Sanctuary (Project Elephant) - 42
43. Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh : Sri Venkateswara Sanctuary and National Park - 43
44. Wildlife in Karnataka : Bandipur National Park (Project Tiger) - 44
45. Wildlife in Karnataka : Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary - 45
46. Wildlife in Karnataka : Bhimeshwari Wildlife Sanctuary - 46
47. Wildlife in Karnataka : Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary - 47
48. Wildlife in Karnataka - Nagarhole National Park - 48
49. Wildlife in Karnataka : Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary - 49
50. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Anamali Wildlife Sanctuary (Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctaury) - 50
51. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park - 51
52. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Mukkurthi National Park - 52
53. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Kalakkadu Wildlife Sanctuary (Project Tiger) - 53
54. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Mundanthurai Sanctuary - 54
55. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary - 55
56. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary - 56
57. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Guindy National Park - 57
58. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Kunthakulam Bird Sanctuary - 58
59. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Vallanadu Black Buck Santuary - 59
60. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Vedanthangal and Karikili Bird Sanctuaries - 60
61. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Arinagar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai - 61
62. Wildlife in Tamilnadu : Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park - 62
63. Wildlife in Kerala : Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary - 63
64. Wildlife in Kerala : Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary - 64