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About Periyar
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the picturesque locales of the Western Ghats in the Idukki district of Kerala. The Periyar Lake, an artificial lake formed due to construction of a dam in 1895 AD adds to the beauty of the park. The lake is a permanent source of water for the wildlife. Though Periyar Kerala is a Tiger Reserve, tourists visit this place to view the Indian elephants, which wander freely in the sanctuary in a huge group, consisting of old, adult and baby elephants. The Periyar National Park was declared the Project Tiger in the year 1972.

While the Tiger is found in this habitat, the thick vegetation of Periyar makes their sightings difficult.  On tours to Periyar, it is easier to spot the chirpy birds like Cormorants, Darters, Kingfishers, Malabar Hornbill and Racket-Tailed Drongoes. Found in the semi-evergreen and evergreen forests. Periyar National Park is famous particularly for the Nilgiri Tahr.The Boat cruises on the Periyar Lake is the ideal way to watch out for wildlife on tours to Periyar. Plan your tours to Periyar between October and June.

Get There
International Airport: Chennai International Airport

Airport: Kochi (Cochin) at 200 km or Madurai in Tamil Nadu at 140 km.

Railways: Kottayam (114 km).

Road: Kumily, the nearest town from Periyar is well served by both state and private buses from Kottayam, Ernakulam and Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

Accommodation
There are numerous accommodation facilities here. The facilities ranges from luxurious to budget category. Two KTDC wildlife resorts are located within the sanctuary – Aranya Nivas and Periyar House besides Lake Palace (in the midst of the lake) – a Taj tourist resort. You can choose any, according to your budget. But book well in advance or you may be in for disappointment, as the resorts are full during the tourist season.

Best Time To Visit
Best Time to Visit: October and June