Periyar Tourist Places | Periyar Travel Guide

Periyar Travel Guide

Periyar, also known as Thekkady, is a popular tourist destination located in the Idukki district of Kerala, India. It is renowned for the Periyar National Park, which is one of the prominent wildlife sanctuaries in South India and a Tiger Reserve.

Periyar National Park is nestled in the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and covers an area of approximately 925 square kilometers (357 square miles). The park is known for its diverse flora and fauna, picturesque landscapes, and the Periyar Lake, which is the central attraction of the park. The lake offers boat cruises that allow visitors to enjoy the scenic beauty and spot wildlife such as elephants, sambar deer, gaur (Indian bison), and a variety of bird species.

One of the unique features of Periyar National Park is the opportunity to engage in a wildlife safari called "Thekkady Bamboo Rafting." During this adventure, visitors can trek through the dense forests and sail on bamboo rafts in the Periyar Lake, accompanied by trained guides. It offers a close encounter with the wildlife and an immersive experience in the natural surroundings.

Periyar is also known for its spice plantations, especially cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, and cloves. Visitors can explore the spice gardens, learn about the cultivation and processing of spices, and even purchase fresh spices.

The region around Periyar is characterized by rolling hills, tea and coffee plantations, and picturesque villages. Nature walks, trekking, and hiking are popular activities, offering opportunities to explore the verdant landscapes and appreciate the rich biodiversity.

Cultural experiences can be found in the nearby towns and villages, where visitors can witness traditional art forms, such as Kathakali (a classical dance-drama), Kalaripayattu (a martial art form), and traditional music performances.

Periyar is well-connected by road from various cities in Kerala and neighboring states. The nearest airports are Madurai in Tamil Nadu (140 kilometers away) and Kochi in Kerala (190 kilometers away). The nearest railway station is Kottayam (114 kilometers away).

Must Visit Tourist Places in Periyar

Bamboo Rafting

This is a dawn to dusk range hiking and rafting program through some of the richest forest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Starting at 8 am from the boat landing, a mosaic of habitats will be traversed before the party gets into rafts made of bamboos. The forests are rich in birdlife and arboreal animals like giant squirrel and Nilgiri langur. The rafting is for about three hours and one gets a panoramic view of forest-clad hills reflected on the lake. Animals like elephant, gaur, and sambar are sighted keeping close to the edges of the lake. The team hitchhikes back to the boat landing by about 5 pm. An armed guard and 04 guides will accompany a maximum of 10 tourists. Tea, snacks and packed lunch will be served en route.

Boat Ride

Boat ride in Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady. It is an example of nature's bounty, with great scenic charm, rich biodiversity, and providing veritable visitor satisfaction. Sprawled over an area of 777 sq .km., Periyar is one of the 27 tiger reserves in India. Zealously guarded and efficiently managed reserve is a repository of rare, endemic and endangered flora and fauna and forms the major watershed of two important rivers of Kerala, the Periyar, and Lamb. Boat cruises make the best option to check out the wilds of Periyar Sanctuary. Today the Periyar lake presents an excellent boating spot for tourists. 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. The upper deck is best for wildlife viewing when taking a boat cruise, but better turn up half an hour early to get the best seat.

Nature Walk

Different nature trails traversing diverse habitats form the trekking routes, generally 4 to 5 km. in length. This is an interpretive program offering an excellent opportunity to watch birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. The trails often pass through evergreen and moist deciduous forests interspersed with marshy grasslands. The Nature walk is the right program to feel nature, hear her whispers, and smell her flowers. The program is offered between 7.00 am. and 10.30 am. and between 2.00 pm. and 3.00 pm. and lasts for about 3 hours. A maximum of 5 persons can go for trekking at a time along each nature trail, accompanied by a trained tribal guide. The Nature walk is the right program to feel nature, hear her whispers, and smell her flowers.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

It holds the repute of one of the best-maintained wildlife sanctuaries in the country. Spread over an area of 777 sq km, dotted with thick evergreen forest, it was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. It is also a treasure trove of some of the rare species of flora and fauna that are native of Kerala. The flora includes over 1965 flowering plants, 171 grass species, 143 species of orchids, and the only South Indian conifer. Apart from the tigers, the park has diverse wildlife including wild elephant, gaur, wild boar, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, and Malabar giant squirrel among others. Today enjoy a Boat cruise in the park, which is the best option to check out the wilds of Periyar Sanctuary.

Spice Plantation Tour

Enjoy a fascinating and informative visit to several neighboring spice plantations as well as smaller-scale spice gardens whose owners are proud of their adaptation of organic farming methods, including the use of methane gas produced from cow dung to provide energy for their household needs. This visit enables you to get an understanding of how the spice used in everyday cooking throughout the world is grown, harvested, and processed before they find their way to your local supermarket. The visit also provides you with a firsthand idea of the wonderful world of spices and its history, cultivation, medicinal values, economics, etc.