The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the hills of the Western Ghats, in Kerala. At the center of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the 5,500-hectare Periyar Lake formed by the construction of a dam on the Periyar River in 1895. The dam submerged the 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.
The forests are tropical, a mixture of deciduous, semi-evergreen, and evergreen 'sholas', the last occurring in the moist valleys and characterized by tall trees and a closed canopy. The forests alternate with extensive patches of grasslands. Periyar's rich bird life includes the Giant Hornbill, Cormorant, Darter, Osprey and Racket-tailed Drongo. The Indian Python and King Cobra are among the reptilian fauna.
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is a veritable paradise of elephants. Tourists planning to travel to Periyar in Kerala can witness playful pachyderms, whose population is currently around 800. These gentle giants in the wild have made Periyar Lake their favorite haunt for frolicking in the water. Scores of them can be witnessed bathing and swimming here. The Indian female elephants do not possess tusks like their African relatives. They are also not as swarthy as their African counterparts.
Other inhabitants of Periyar include the leopard, wild dog, barking deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur (a primate), bonnet macaque, sambhar, porcupines, squirrels, gaur (Indian bison), wild boar and sloth bear. The population of tigers is also increasing appreciably. There are approximately 40 tigers in the area as per the latest reports. To make your vacations in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary more fruitful, an early morning visit would be fruitful.
Among the unusual species found at Periyar in Kerala are the flying lizard and the flying snake. With wings of orange or yellow, the flying lizard is seen as it glides from one tree to the other. The flying snake is also brilliantly colored in yellow and black with a pattern of red rosettes. If you are planning your vacations in Kerala and looking forward to have a closer look at the wild side of life, then a visit to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve is essential.
Eindian Vacations offers tour bookings, and Kerala travel packages for Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, India. To book your tour, or for more information, please fill up the form below.
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