Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India

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Periyar National Park is situated in the hills of Western Ghats in the state of Kerala in South West India. The centre piece of Periyar National Park is the 5500 hectare Periyar lake formed by the construction of a dam on the Periyar river in 1895. The dam submerged low-lying forest whose dead tree trunks still jut out of the waters. Along the fringes of the lake are marshy areas with tall grasslands. This is one of the richest habitats of large mammals, as it provides both excellent cover and nourishment in the form of succulent shoots and grasses. Popular ways to explore the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary include short guided walks in the forest along the lakeshore, boat rides on the lake, bamboo rafting and overnight camping safaris. This is a particularly rich habitat for large mammals including several types of deer, gaur (Indian bison), and elephants. The variety of birdlife in the Sanctuary is staggering with several species of hornbills being among the most spectacular- they are frequent visitors to the fringes of the forest and can be seen around many hotels, as are giant fruit bats which roost in large trees throughout the area. The neighbouring town of Thekkady offers a range of excellent accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets.
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