Periyar National Park

The first official action towards the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity in Kerala was taken in 1934 by the Maharaja ofTravancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, by declaring the forests around Periyar lake as a private game reserve to stop the encroachment of tea plantations. It was founded as Nellikkampatty Game Reserve. It was consolidated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1950 after the political integration of India.

Periyar extends around the banks of a huge artificial lake that was created by the damming of the Periyar River in 1895. It has 780 square kilometers (485 square miles) of dense hilly forest, with 350 square kilometers (220 square miles) of this being core park land.

Periyar is one of the most popular national parks in southern India, but these days this is more for its tranquil feel than sightings of wildlife, which many people complain can be few and far between at times. The park is known for its elephants, and 30 minute elephant rides through the jungle are offered.

Location

Periyar is located in Thekkady, around 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from Kumili in the Idukki district of central Kerala.

climate

The temperature varies depending upon the altitude and it ranges between 15°Celsius in December and January and 31°Celsius in April and May. Annual precipitation is between 2000 and 3000 mm, about two thirds occurring during the southwest monsoon between June to September. Much of the rest occurs during the northeast monsoon between October and December.

How to Get There

The closest airports are at Maduri in Tamil Nadu (130 kilometers or 80 miles away) and Kochi in Kerala (190 kilometers or 118 miles away). The nearest railways station is at Kottayam, 114 kilometers (70 miles) away. The scenery on the way to Periyar is beautiful, and includes tea estates and spice gardens.

When to Visit

Unlike many national parks in India, Periyar stays open all year round. The most popular time to visit is during the cooler, drier months from October to February. However the aroma of the moist vegetation in the monsoon also gives it special appeal. The best time for viewing elephants is during the hotter months of March and April, when they spend the most time in the water. Don’t expect to see a lot of wildlife during the monsoon season because there’s no need for them to come out in search of water. Periyar is also best avoided on weekends due to crowds of day tourists.

Opening Hours

Periyar is open daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Periyar Tiger Reserve conducts two hour slow boat trips inside the park. The first one leaves at 7.30 a.m. and offers the best chance of seeing animals, along with the last one at 3.30 p.m. Other departures are at 9.30 a.m., 11.15 a.m., and 1.45 p.m. Guided nature walks that last for around three hours start between 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. in the morning, and 2.00 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. in the afternoon. All day border hikes and bamboo rafting trips leave at 8 a.m.

Entry Fees and Charges

Adult foreigners pay 300 rupees, and children 105 rupees, to enter the national park. The price for Indians is 25 rupees for adults and 5 rupees for children. Boat trips cost 150 rupees for everyone above 11 years of age, and 50 rupees for children. Visitors should purchase their tickets 90 minutes in advance from the boat jetty, near the Wildlife Information Center. It's possible to hire your own boat from the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation and this is highly recommended to avoid the hoards of people and noisy children on the other boats. Periyar Tiger Trail treks, conducted by rehabilitated poachers and tree cutters, are 5,500 rupees ($100) for one night and 7,500 rupees ($135) for 2 nights. (Tiger sightings are rare though)!

Travel Tips

Safaris are only carried out by boat, making Periyar a peaceful place to be. The lake is particularly captivating at sunset. However, the best way to explore Periyar and see the wildlife is to participate in one of the many eco-tourism activities that are on offer. These include hikes through the forest with reformed poachers as guides, bamboo rafting, night time jungle patrols, trips to local villages on bullock carts, and tribal heritage visits.

Visiting Periyar During the Monsoon

Periyar National Park is one of the few national parks in India to remain open during the monsoon. Most of the activities in Periyar are still weather dependent, but boat trips operate throughout the monsoon season. If you do visit Periyar during monsoon time and go trekking, keep in mind that leeches also come with the rains so make sure you wear the leech proof socks that are available at the park.

Where to Stay

The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation runs three charming hotels within the thickets of the park. These are the Lake Palace which costs from 10,000 rupees ($200) per night for a double room, Aranya Nivas starting from 3,500 rupees ($60) per night, and the cheaper Periyar House, which starts from around 2,000 rupees ($45) per night. Arrangements for boat trips and elephant rides can also be made through these hotels.  All other hotels and resorts are located a short distance outside the national park.