Located in Kerela, amidst the lush green forests of the Western Ghats, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the most famous wildlife sanctuary in South India. It is also commonly known as the “Elephant Reserve” and the “Tiger reserve” and is spread over 777 km out of which the 360 km is covered by dense, evergreen forests.
It was declared a Tiger Reserve in the year 1972. Four species of primates are found at Periyar – the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, Gee’s Golden Langur, Common Langur And Bonnet Macaque.
Periyar wildlife sanctuary also has a 100 year old artificial lake which offers a one of a kind experience of observing and photographing wildlife from a very short distance. It is home to a 1000 elephants and 46 tigers as well as sambars, boars, deer, bison, lion-tailed macaques and so on.
As if all this wasn’t enough, this unique sanctuary has 49 species of mammals, 246 species of birds, 28 species of reptiles, 8 species of amphibians, 22 species of fish and 112 species of butterflies. The Nilgiri Tahr, which is rarely to be seen also inhabits this park.
In addition to all the fauna, the Periyar wildlife sanctuary is also known for its flora. Some of the deeper valley contains trees that have grown to a height of up to 130-140 feet and seem as though they’ve been there since the beginning of time. They form an extremely thick cover which even bright sunlight sometimes finds hard to penetrate.
The edges of the lake and other water bodies contain marshy grasslands. Throughout the park one will also find areas of semi-evergreen forest which are used by many of the animal species as cover.
You can also enjoy a trek to the ruins of the Mangala Devi Temple, a picturesque old stone temple situation in the heart of the Thekkady forest. However, most people come to Periyar to watch the elephants that come down to play at the lake.
From the lovely scenery on the road up to the lake cruise and a walk through the jungle makes one long to come back for more.
Ideal time to visit the park: From the months of October till June.
How to Reach Priyar wildlife sanctuary:
Air : Kochi (Cochin) at 200 km or Madurai in Tamil Nadu at 140 km are the nearest airports from Periyar.
Rail : Kottayam at 114 km is the nearest railhead from Periyar.
Road : Kumily, the nearest town from Periyar is well served by both state and private buses from Kottayam, Ernakulam and Madurai in Tamil Nadu.
What is the purple “squirrel.jpg?” I’ve never seen anything like it before and it’s beautiful! I’d like to know more!
Stunning natural scenery of India
Stunning natural scenery of India.
Looks very beautiful and comfortable for relaxing with family or friends who have a hobby of photography, can be photographed against a variety of wildlife that was there.
thanking you,
very good and rare picture taken by u,
rk mettur dam 30/03/2012
it is vry informative
I have visisted the site in Thekkady, Kelara. Love the natural sites there.
A stpenduous task the generations to ponder and visit if time permits,
children are to be exposed to this greenary. Sabaash.
good photographs . looks so real in pohotos itself
thank u very much for pictures of various animals. but i think it could have been better if the names of the animals are given with each pictures. the birds & trees arenot shown.
madhu
Fantastic and no other word to say.
Beautiful snaps….Wow what a photography! Grandeurs of God’s creation.
great mails from your end please keep it up.
thanx a lot.
nice,looking forward to visit soon
Look very beautiful natural scenery of india
Beautiful Nature
Beautiful nature one would like to see quite often
Mother Earth is so beautiful. We can see by such excellent photos
the pictures are fantastic
Thank you very much,
Everything so nice,but I cant forget the fact that I lost my dear friend Late Suryaprakash from Bangalore in the infamous Pariyar lake tragedy 3 years back in his last nature trip with his family.
nice information about wildlife…………..
Pictures are good. You can see plenty of monkeys. If you could see purple “squirrel” or “cheeta”, you must be one of blessed. To see elephants you have to go either take the first boat at 7 am or the last boat at 5 pm. Other times, it is your luck. Looks like the elephants prefer to visit the villages at downhills in Tamil Nadu to damage the plantation rather than giving pose at Tekkadi.
Excellent photography. Well appreciated.
Lovely natural scenery
Beautiful Photography… Wild Life A real Pride for India…
Excellent photograph Everything so nice
awesome pics….credit also goes to d person who clicked d pics!
Wild Life A real Pride for India…Thank you very much,
Awesom pics well taken photography and nice location……
wowwww superbbb shots….
Icridible india.
! kerala is the one of the best place in india…..
unbelievable….
VERY BUTIFUL.. PARADISE OF GODS OWN COUNTRY.
VERY BUTIFUL.. NICE.
It is an eye feast watching the pictures. It reminds us of God’s artistic
capabilities and the great aesthetic sense which is inimitable.
Nazeeruddin Hyderabad
Nice photographs. Thanks !
What is the purple “squirrel.jpg?” I am seeing for the first time and it’s beautiful! I’d like to know more about this!
My beautiful INDIA…
let the wild life survive the advent of cultured cicvility
let the wild life survive the advent of cultured civility
Too good and beautiful!!!!♥
very interesting snaps
After seeing the pictures, I feel that I have visited it.
Nice to see this.
Prakash Reddy
wow superb photography…
very nice pictures…I like these, I like this!
It is very good location and pictures have been taken nicely with natural locations
IT IS REALLY AN NATURAL ASSET FOR INDIA AND SHOULD BE MAINTAIN BY AUTHORITIES FOR LONGER LIFE.
Plz send me detail about the stay & sanctuary, I am interested to visit sanctuary for nature photography purpose.
Hai ,
What a beautiful sanctuary , its called NATURE
they are having boat ride through the jungle and believe me, during our 3 hours ride I found nothing 🙂
Beautiful wildlife sanctury.
Very interesting. Beautiful pictures.
Beautiful thanks alot
Very nice.A piece of good photography.
Thanks for sealing my photographs and publishing as your own :). I have no issues you stealing them, but atleast linking or crediting the right person is imp.
Excellent photography.
realy nice pics
really great !!!
To spot something like what is shown in images would take months. I had been there 20 years ago saw no wild life whatsoever. Of course pics are stunning.
thanks very nice
this is difficult to see
very fentastic
Only the boating is good. We did not see any animals.
excellent work on phtography
very very nice photography.
Beautiful Photography… Wild Life A real Pride for India…
A very beautiful Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a pride to India. Amazed to see the excellent snaps and I would like to convey my sincere thanks to those photographers who clicked these beautiful snaps. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary has 49 species of mammals, 246 species of birds, 28 species of reptiles, 8 species of amphibians, 22 species of fish and 112 species of butterflies and also the Nilgiri Tahr. Thank you so much for this nice collection and beautiful information.
Incredible.
Iwould have been happy if some information is given about the places to stay and any conducted tours in the sanctuary.
I LOVE penguins and these pictures r AMAZING! More please???