City Information
The drive to Thekkady itself is enchanting as the road winds through tranquil countryside, rich plantations and thick jungles. The sanctuary is, 60 kms from Idukki, 190 kms from Cochin, 130 kms from Madurai and 114 kms away from Kottayam and is open throughout the year, but the best season is from September to May. The sanctuary is centered around the large artificial lake formed by the dam across the Periyar river. The main attraction is a boat trip over an area of 26 sq. kms. in the man-made lake of Thekkady. The forest department would also provide elephant rides and trekking for 10 kms in the sanctuary.
Thekkady falls in the pictursque hill district of Idukki in Kerala. Idukki derives its name from the Malayalam word Idukki meaning a narrow, steep guage. Thekkady in Kerala State, India, one of world's most fascinating natural wildlife sanctuaries, where you can watch and pet wildlife at handshaking distance. The vegetation, the flora and fauna and the birds of Thekkady are uniquely rich, vast and varied that it does not bear resemblance to any other wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Even a casual visitor to this place will not fail to observe the peculiar ecological pattern of Thekkady. Thekkady - The very sound of the name conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. Here, in the crisp, cool air of the Western Ghats you will experience the most enchanting holiday with the animals of the wild and the simple unsophisticated mountain people.
The Periyar Tiger Reserve named after the Periyar river is one of the most prestigous wild life tracts on the Western Ghats. The Periyar Lake which runs through the middle of the sanctuary was created in 1895 by building a dam across the Periyar River to divert the water for irrigation. The forests around the lake were declared as Reserve Forests. The first step towards conservation was taken by the Maharaja of Travancore by apointing Mr.Robinson as the first game warden in 1899. Based on his recommendations, the forests around the lake was turned into a sanctuary called Nellikkampetty Sanctuary in 1934. The sanctuary was declared as a Tiger Reserve in 1978 under the Project Tiger Scheme. In 1982, the core area of the Sanctuary (350sq.kms) was notified as a National Park.
The Periyar Tiger Reserve
Sanctuary covering an area of 777 sq.km is a renowned destination for wildlife tourists and nature enthusiasts. The vistas of Periyar with its creeks, islets and peninsulas provide an ideal habitat for a wide variety of wild life. The altitude varies from 900 mtrs to 2019 mtrs. Topography is uneven and encompasses forests, grasslands and the lake. The Periyar Lake covers an area of 26 sq.km and is 31km in length. Besides the Tiger, the sanctuary is also home to Elephants, Gaur (Indian bison), Sambar Deer, Wild Boar and a varied species of monkeys including the Nilgiri Langoor and the Lion tailed Macaque. There is also a variety of bird life of which Snake birds (Darters), Cormorants, Kingfishers and Grey Heron are commonly sighted.
Wildlife related activities that are possible in Periyar Tiger Reserve are as follows:
Boating
The unique thing about Periyar Tiger Reserve is the opportunity to sight animals from the safety of a boat. The boat trip takes about 2 hours and the animals normally sighted include Elephants, Gaurs, Bisons, Sambar deer and Wild boars. There is also the opportunity to see at a close range a variety of birds like Snake birds, Grey Herons, Cormorants and Kingfishers. There are trips throughout the day and the first trip starts at 7am and the last trip starts at 4pm. All the boats are operated by the Government and there is the option of hiring an exclusive boat or joining the public boat.
Nature Trek
This has been recently started by the Forest Department wherein local tribals are trained as guides for trekking. The reporting time for trekking is at 7am in the morning & from 2pm to 2.30pm in the afternoon. There are four different routes duration varying from 2 hours to 6hours.A variety of flora and fauna can be sighted on the trek.
Bird Watching Trek
This is similar to the nature trek except that one gets the thrill of watching a variety of birds. There are over 200 species of birds sighted in Periyar Tiger Reserve.
Visit to Wildlife Museum
This is maintained by the Forest Department inside the Sanctuary. This gives information about a variety of animals, birds, reptiles and fish, which are endemic to this region. It is open from 10am to 5pm.
Elephant Rides
Guests can avail elephant rides inside the sanctuary for duration of 30 minutes. The forest department maintains elephants.
Spice Plantations
Kumily is famous as a spice-trading centre. The town is surrounded by plantations of Pepper, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg and also of Tea and Coffee. It is a very interesting experience to take a visit to these plantations and get firsthand experience of the cultivation, growth and processing of spices. A longer tour can also include a visit to waterfall/ Mountain Viewpoint.
Other sightseeing options would be a visit to the waterfalls at Chellarkovil and Churuli. Chellarkovil is at a distance of about 20 kms from the hotel. In addition to the waterfall, one also gets to see a spectacular view of the valley. But the sighting of the waterfall depends on climatic conditions. Churuli is located in the neighboring state of Tamilnadu at a distance of approximately 30 kms from the hotel. One has to cross a crossway, which gets flooded during heavy rains to reach the waterfall.
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