About Periyar....
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. In 1895, the British undertook
water resource management plans for the area and started work on a dam and
an artificial lake under the auspices of Col. J. Pennycuick. 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
Maharaja of Travancore. Post-1975 Periyar finds itself in the enviable
position of being a national park as well as a protected tiger reserve.
Periyar (also known as 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.
Elephantine Abode
Periyar
is a veritable paradise of elephants. Herds of playful wild elephants have
made Periyar Lake their favorite haunt for frolicking in the water. Scores
of them can be witnessed bathing and swimming here. The Indian female
elephants do not posses tusks like their African relatives. They are also
not as swarthy as their African counterparts. 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 your side, could yield results.
Amidst the rocky
hinges along the lake, monitor lizards may be spotted. Trekkers have also
sighted pythons, king cobras and flying lizards. Some 260 species of birds
are found at Periyar. These include darters, cormorants, ibises, gray
herons, mynas, flycatchers, orioles, wood pigeons, kingfishers, kites,
ospreys, thrushes, and an appreciable number of blue-winged parakeets.
Climate
The
temperature during summers (April–June) ranges from 21°C to 24°C.
During the monsoon (July–August), it ranges from 19°C to 21°C.
Winter season lasts from October to March and is cool and pleasant.
Outside World
The nearest
town is Kumily (4 km) where communication (post, telegraph, phone and fax)
and medical (chemists, hospitals) facilities are available. Internet/ e-mail
facilities are available at Kottayam (117 km) from the park.
Getting
there
The 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 is Kottayam. The nearest national airports are Cochin (200 km) and
Madurai (140 km).
Where to Stay
Forest
rest houses—Periyar House, Aranya Niwas, etc.—situated in the park’s
tourist complex area offer good accommodation facilities. The Lake Palace at
Eddapaliyam, which was once the royal residence of the Maharaja of
Travancore, and Spice Village are the two other better options for
accommodation in the area. Apart from these, there are many other rest
houses where accommodation is available to suit every budget.
Travel Tips
During summers, light cotton
garments are recommended while for the winters, cottons and light woolens
would be suitable. Those also planning a trekking expedition must be
cautious against snakes in their vicinity. For more information on the park,
tourists may contact: Field Director, Project Tiger, Kanjikuzhi, Kottayam,
Kerala, India.
