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Periyar National Park

The Periyar National Park, one of the best-maintained wildlife sanctuaries in India, lies amidst the lush forests of the Western Ghats in Kerala, close to Kottayam, the nearest railhead. The park is known for its wild elephant population, though the lucky visitor may also get to see a few tigers. The Periyar National Park's terrain is rocky and hilly, interspersed with lakes, swamps and the river Periyar. The green hues tropical forests of the Park are soothing to the eyes.

Elephants and tigers are the major attractions of the Periyar National Park. The Park's flat grasslands shelter many kinds of deer like mouse deer, barking deer, sambar etc. The endangered Nilgiri Tahr is also one of the many denizens of this protected area. The trees shelter langurs, macaques of different varieties and sloth bear. The fierce dhole, or wild dogs, mentioned in Rudyard Kipling's books about the wolf boy Mowgli, is also to be found here. The mornings are often broken by the wild sounds of the bonnet macaque calling out a warning to its companions, or the birds twittering in the many trees to be found in the place. The misty Lake Periyar seems to have come out of a wild land of your dreams, as the shores reverberate with the sounds of animals come for a drink, or a predator crouching in the tall reeds, waiting for its prey.

The Lake Periyar is home to many kinds of freshwater fish, and the shores of the Lake are frequented by water birds like cormorants, kingfishers, fish owls, herons and egrets. The larger birds of prey like eagles, kites and orioles prey on the smaller birds or animals like squirrels. The Periyar National Park's cool swamps provide an inviting nesting place to pythons, cobras and lizards.

The best place to watch the animals and birds of the Periyar National Park is the Periyar Lake, where you can hire a boat and cruise the calm waters of the Lake. The Park also has a tall "machan", or watch tower, from which you may be able to spot herds of elephants as the mighty beasts frolic in the mud with their young ones.

Wildlife in Kerala
Periyar National Park	Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary	Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Silent Valley National Park	Eravikulam National Park
Thatekkad Bird Sanctuary	Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Castle and King brings to you the wonders of the Periyar National Park through its wildlife tours. For online bookings or inquiries, please fill the form below