In the banks of Periyar Lake lays the pride of Kerala – The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. This is a protected area placed in the Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts of Kerala. The sanctuary which borders with Tamil Nadu is located in the Cardamom and Pandhalam hills in the Western Ghats. The wildlife sanctuary is also famous for its tiger reserve and elephant reserve.
Boating In The Periyar Lake
The tourist centre at Thekkady offers two-hour boating trips, arranged by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, at the artificial lake near the sanctuary. A herd of elephants or a wandering family of deer are common sights near the lake. In the hot months of March and April, visitors stand a better chance of viewing wildlife as the animals come to the lake frequently for drinking water. You may be able to spot herds of Gaur, Sambar and wild boars in the grasslands adjacent to the shores. A variety of avian fauna such as darters, egrets and kingfishers can be seen resting on dead tree trunks that stick out over the lake. During your boat ride, there is also a high probability of observing the antics of the Smooth Indian Otter.
Periyar National Park
Periyar National Park, also known as Periyar Tiger Reserve, is in the mountainous Western Ghats of Kerala, southern India. This wildlife sanctuary is home to tigers and a significant elephant population, as well as rare lion-tailed macaques, sambar deer, leopards and Indian bison. In the park's north, Periyar Lake is popular for boat rides. Farther north, spice plantations surround the town of Kumily.
Vandanmedu
Vandanmedu, situated about 25 km from Kumily, is considered as one of the largest trade centres of cardamom in the world. Tourists can enjoy a walk through the cardamom plantations, apart from trekking, rock climbing and other activities.
Gavi
Gavi is situated on the eastern side of the district of Pathanamthitta , about 40 km from Kumily and 28 km from Vandiperiyar. The place remained unexplored by travellers for a long time. It entered the tourist’s map recently when Alastair Sawdays, one of the world’s tourism majors, listed it among the must-see eco-tourism destinations in India.
