Periyar Travel

A New Beat in the Heart of Kerala - Periyar Tour !

Fact Files : Periyar District : Idukki Location : 186 km SE of Kochi in the Idukki district of Kerala Poular For : Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Spice Plantation Best Time To Visit : September to March To See : Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Tribal Heritage Museum, Mangaladevi Temple. Most Famous For : Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary., Tigers, Elephants Don't Miss : A Scenic Walk to the Ayurvedic Factory located 1 km away. Must Experience : Elephant Safari in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Getting Around : Peermade – 39 km, Pachakanam – 42 km, Gavi and Pullumedu – 48 km. To Shop : Kerala Spices, Cee Pee Spices, Indian Spices, Crescent Spices. Getting There : Air - Nearest Airport : Kochin International Airport. Nedumbassery. Rail - Nearest Railhead – Kottayam 119 km / 2 hrs. Road - 5 km from Kumily on NH220. On NH 19, which runs the length of Eastern Idukki District. Inside Tip : Stay away from the Wild Elephants in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary as they at times may become furious. Staying Options : Ashley Bungalow, Thrisangu Haven, Wood Palace Resort, Misty Mountain Plantation, High Valley Resort, Paradisa Plantation, Canaan Valley Homestay.

Periyar is a boast of a rich bird life, animal life and plant life. It is also famous for its National Park and Tiger Reserve. It is spread in a tropical forest area, a mixture of deciduous, semi-evergreen and characterized by tall trees, and a closed canopy. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a perennial source of water for the local wildlife. Periyar also harbors the leopard, wild dog, barking deer and mouse deer.

Herds of elephant and sambar, gaur and wild pigs wander down to the lakeside and can be observed from the launches that cruise the lake. You may even get a glimpse of the tiger during this season. A summer palace of the former Maharaja of Travancore, set along the lake, is a hotel and a fine place to stay. Spice gardens and plantation estates surround the national park. There are boat services which takes the visitor around the lake. The best season to visit the park is between October and June. 



Sightseeing at Periyar


Wildlife 
On your tour to Periyar you can visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve. The region proffers a refuge to many mammals, reptiles and amphibians and around 320 avian species. Periyar has a few Nilgiri Tahr, good numbers of which may also be seen on a day excursion to nearby Eravikulam National Park near Munnar.  
Kumily  
It is situated on the outskirts of the Periyar Sanctuary. Kumily is also one of the main attractions at Periyar, a plantation town closely associated with Thekkady. It is also an important shopping center and spice trade center, the main bus station and most of the medium range accommodation in the Periyar region is found in Kumily.

Murikkady 
The panoramic picnic spot, Murikkady is also another important place of visit is Murikkady which is a panorama of cardamom, coffee and pepper plantations. It is just 5 km from Thekkady close to Periyar Tiger Reserve. Lush greenery, balmy air and picturesque views have made this an ideal destination to visit. 

Pandikuzhi  
It is located between Chellarkovil and the Tamil Nadu State border and 5 km from Kumily. It is one of the most famous picnic spots of Periyar. Pandikuzhi offers great opportunities for trekking and is a photographer’s delight. Tourists can also immerse themselves in adventurous endeavors like mountain climbing and many other activities. 

Boat Cruises  
The Periyar Lake offers an excellent boating spot for tourists. Boat cruises make the best bet to explore the wilds of Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Although it is unusual to see many animals from the boats, still you spot a family of Elephants, Wild Boar, and Sambar Deer by the water's edge.  

Cradomom Hills  
Cradomom hills offer you an extremely splendid scenario to watch. Periyar and Kumily are the most convenient points from which visitors can easily explore Kerala's beautiful Cardamom hills.To reach the hills you can take jeeps and taxis which are easily available.