Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Location: Thekkady, about 4 km from Kumili in Idukki district, central
Kerala
The pride of Kerala and a testimony to nature's splendour and human innovation,
the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Periyar lake
- an artificial lake, at Thekkady.
Here the high ranges of the Western Ghats are clothed in dense evergreen,
moist deciduous forests and savannah grasslands. Below this thick green
canopy roam herds of elephants, sambars, tigers, gaurs, lion tailed macaques
and Nilgiri langurs.
In addition to elephant rides, cruises on the lake and treks to the ruined
Mangaladevi temple - a beautiful old stone temple situated in the heart
of the Thekkady forest, this sanctuary offers the unique opportunity to
watch and photograph wild elephants at close quarters.
Lake Palace and Aranya Nivas are two idyllic accommodation options set in
the sylvan lake side background. The romantic Lake Palace, formerly a summer
retr

eat of the Maharaja of Travancore, is built on a small island accessible
only by boat.
Aranya Nivas(Jungle Retreat) a stone lodge with rubble masonry and colonial
style of architecture at the head of the lake is a premium property of the
Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.
Getting there:
Nearest railway station: Kottayam, about 114 km
Nearest airports: Madurai (Tamilnadu) about 140 km;
Cochin International
Airport, about 190 km.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala Wildlife Reservation
Form