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About
Periyar National Park
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 pict uresque
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 Maharaja of Travancore. Post-Periyar
National Park 975 Periyar finds itself in the enviable position of
being a national park as well as a protected tiger reserve.
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.
Wildlife Attraction
Elephant
While at the 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 swimm ing
here. The Indian female elephants do not posses tusks like their
African relatives. They are also not as swarthy as their African
counterparts.
Birds
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.
The Other Resident of Periyar
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
reports. The tigers, along with the Nilgiri tahrs (a kind of a wild
goat), are elusive creatures. However, an early morning visit, with
luck on side, can yield p ositive
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.
Recreation and Enjoyment at the Reserve
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. |
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Best Time to Visit
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 watchtowers set up in the Periyar
National Park. There is a good chance of spotting an occasional tiger
in this relatively peaceful corner of the Periyar National Park.
How to get there?
The Periyar National Park is well connected by bus service from the
state capital of Thiruvananthapuram (271 km), as well as the cities of
Cochin (200 km), Kottayam (117 km), and Madurai (140 km). The nearest
major rail junction to the Periyar National Park is Kottayam. The
nearest national airports to the Periyar National Park are are Cochin
(200 km) and Madurai (140 km). Indianvisit can provide you A/C and Non
A/C cars with chauffeur for your transportation to the Periyar
National Park. |
