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About | Season |
Access
Area :
777 sq km / 77,700 hectares
Established : 1950 as a sanctuary, 1978 as a tiger
reserve.
Description :
Periyar National Park is situated in the hills of the
Western Ghats in the state of Kerala in SW India. The
centrepiece of the park is the 5,500-hectare Periyar lake
formed by the construction of a dam on the Periyar river
in 1895. The dam submerged low-lying forest whose dead
treetrunks still jut out of the waters. Along the fringes
of the lake are marshy areas with tall grasslands. This is
one of the richest hanitats ofor large mammals, as it
provides both excellent cover and nourishment in the form
of succulent shoots and grasses. Here it is possible to
see large herds of Indian Elephant with relative ease as
well as Nilgiri Langur near Aranya Niwas and the Liontail
Macaque in higher areas.
The forests are tropical, a mixture of deciduous,
semi-evergreen, and evergreen ‘sholas’, the last occurring
in the moist valleys and characterised by tall trees and a
closed canopy. The forests alternate with extensive
patches of grasslands. Periyar’s rich birdlife includes
the Giant Hornbill, Cormorant, Darter, Osprey and
Racket-tailed Drongo. The Indian Python and King Cobra are
among the reptilian fauna. Periyar has a few Nilgiri Tahr,
good numbers of which may also be seen on a day excursion
to nearby Eravikulam National Park near Munnar.
Season :
Open year-round, the best period being November-April.
Access :
Fly to Cochin and drive to Periyar (200 km). The nearest
railway station is Kottayam (114 km).
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