Kerala, a state in southern India, is highly recognised for many things, including its national parks. One of this state's largest parks is Periyar National Park &amp; Wildlife Sanctuary. This is also known as PNP,it is under category II of national parks according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This suggests that the protected area has a purpose other than serving as a mere tourist destination, namely the preservation of wild animals and flora. The Periyar National Park &amp; Wildlife Sanctuary is managed by the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department and often attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. The Western Ghats' southern slope serves as the national park's southern border, which it shares with Tamil Nadu's state boundaries.

Inside India's Kerala state's Periyar National Park sits the well-known tourist destination of Periyar Lake. Visitors have a range of things to choose from at the lake, such as boating and birding. It is a well-liked vacation spot for those who enjoy the outdoors and the picturesque splendour of the lake and the nearby wooded hills.Visitors may explore the lake and its surrounds by boat, which is a popular pastime on Periyar Lake. Birdwatchers will like the lake since it is home to a variety of aquatic birds, including kingfishers, darters, cormorants, and egrets. Elephants, bison, and sambar deer are among the creatures that visitors may see visiting the lake to drink.

Location: Kerala
Timings: 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:15 AM, 1:45 PM and 3:30 PM.

The Mullaperiyar Dam, which is located above the Periyar River and has a lovely breeze, draws picnickers. This dam is a gravity-type construction and employs stone masonry. There are 13 chute spillways in all, each spanning 1,200 feet in length and 138 feet in width, and each having a huge capacity of 4,518 cubic yards per second. The water is 142 feet deep, according to accounts. Just next to the main dam, there is also a "baby dam." 443,230,000 cubic metres may be stored in the reservoir.

Location: Kerala
Timings: 7:00AM TO 3:00PM
Distance from Periyar National Park : 5.5 Kilometre

Known for its scenic beauty and spice plantations, Thekkady is a tiny town in Kerala, India's Idukki district. The town's location in the heart of the Cardamom and Pandalam Hills affords tourists a spectacular view of the nearby green mountains and expansive lakes. Thekkady is known for its spice farms, which produce a wide range of spices like cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Visitors may take a tour of the farms to see how these spices are grown and processed. They can also buy the spices as gifts.

Location: Kerala
Timings: 6:00AM TO 7:00PM
Distance from Periyar National Park : 4.2 Kilometre

Undoubtedly one of the most well-known Hindu temples in southern India is the Sabarimala temple complex, which is a part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The Sabarimala Temple is dedicated to Ayyappan, a Hindu deity who allegedly led a celibate life according to mythology. Because it is located on a hill, the temple complex is lucky to have several additional hills surrounding it. Together with the breathtaking mountain view, devotees will also discover huge forests nearby. Take into account the crowds when visiting Sabarimala.

Location: Kerala
Timings: 5:00AM TO 10:00PM
Distance from Periyar National Park : 72.5 Kilometre

In Kerala, India, the Hindu shrine Mangala Devi Kannagi Temple is around 10 kilometres from Periyar Wildlife Reserve. The temple, which is situated 1,337 metres above sea level, is thought to have been built by Cheran Chenguttuvan, a former ruler of the ancient Tamilakam region. The goddess Mangala Devi, who is believed to be an incarnation of Parvati, is the subject of the temple. The temple was built in the goddess' honour since it is reported that she helped a local king overcome his enemies. Kannagi, the protagonist of the Tamil epic Silapathikaram, is also associated with the temple.

Location: Kerala
Timings: 6:00AM TO 10:00 AM, 12:00PM TO 12:30PM
Distance from Periyar National Park : 10.9 Kilometre

Suruli Falls is an incredible waterfall located in Tamil Nadu, India, more than 50 kilometres from Periyar National Park. The falls, which are a part of the Meghamalai mountain range, receive their water from the Suruli River. The waterfall has a total height of 150 feet and is a two-step cascading cascade. The water initially enters a pool after tumbling from a height of 40 feet before descending once again. The falls are a well-liked tourist destination for people who prefer the great outdoors and adventure. Verdant, luxuriant trees around them.

Location: Kerala
Timings: 8:00AM TO 4:00PM
Distance from Periyar National Park : 26.3 Kilometre

In Kerala, India, the Kakki Reservoir is about 8 kilometres from the Periyar Reserve and is easily accessible by automobile in 15 minutes. The reservoir is a well-liked spot for day outings and picnics and is a component of the Ranni Reserve Forest. Two dams, the Anathode dam and the Kakki dam, were built on the Kakki tributary to form the Kakki Reservoir. The Kakki tributary of the River Pamba receives water from the reservoir for disposal. There are many possibilities for guests to relax and unwind in the area's magnificent combination of lush green forests and rolling hills.

Location: Kerala
Timings: 24 Hours
Distance from Periyar National Park : 8.4 Kilometre&nbsp;

After travelling along NH 183A for around 15 kilometres in an hour, one may arrive at a location that gives spectacular views of the natural world. The Parunthumpara neighbourhood in the Idukki district is well-known for its panoramic hilltop vista. Get some lunch from the side of the road and hire an off-road jeep to better enjoy the meandering surroundings. People travelling by car or bicycle may easily find parking. If you'd like to walk, take a leisurely stroll down the guarded promenade and take in the beauties of the verdant valleys, tumbling waterfalls, and mist-covered mountains.

Location: Kerala
Timings: 24 Hours
Distance from Periyar National Park : 14.4 Kilometre

About 5 kilometres away from the national park lies the Thekkady Rose Garden, a botanical garden that focuses mostly on roses. The park, which also has variously coloured roses, has many flowering plants and admission is INR 50 per person. There is also the Adventure Package, which costs INR 400 for each family. If you have three hours to kill, you should employ the indoor spring-bouncing, boating, bungee jumping, and rope walking facilities. Children can ride every ride. Thekkady Rose Park also offers a lot of picture opportunities.

Location: Kerala
Timings: 10:00AM TO 6:00PM
Distance from Periyar National Park : 4.6 Kilometre

By Air:
<ul>
<li>The Cochin International Airport, which is situated around 170 kilometres from the Periyar National Park, is the closest airport if you must fly into Kerala. But, compared to flying into Madurai, the drive from Cochin to the national park is lengthier and less convenient, taking more than 4 and a half hours.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
By Road: 
<ul>
<li>Renting a large Periyar reserve may be reached by one of the most straightforward and simple approaches using a vehicle that you can drive down to the jungle. You may hire a cab from one of Kerala's top car rental companies for a journey that is even more taxing. You can avoid needing to switch automobiles by selecting this option. Also, if you are coming from a distant part of the nation, you are free to choose when to stop for meals, rest stops, or even overnight stays.</li>
</ul>

By Rail:
<ul>
<li>The station that is nearest by train is Kottayam, which is more than 100 miles from Periyar National Park. It will take around three hours to go to the park. As a result of India's large rail system, you can reach this location from almost anywhere in the country with only a few changes of trains and at extremely affordable rates, depending on whether you select an unreserved coach, a compartment without air conditioning, or a compartment with non-AC.</li>
</ul>

In conclusion, elephants, tigers, leopards, sambar deer, Indian bison, langurs, and a large number of bird species may be found at the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary along with other diverse flora and wildlife. The sanctuary is renowned for its visual splendour, which includes verdant woods, undulating hills, and gorgeous lakes. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is generally a must-visit site for anybody who enjoys nature, animals, and wants to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and be surrounded by the magnificence of the natural world. The Periyar Lake, bamboo rafting, nature hikes, and forest safaris are among the recreational opportunities available to visitors to the sanctuary.

The Periyar National Park &amp; Wildlife Sanctuary's history spans several years before it was founded in 1982. A few years after the Mullaperiyar Dam, a masonry gravity dam, was built across the Periyar River in 1895, the Periyar Lake Reserve was created. In 1934, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the Maharaja of the old Kingdom of Travancore, established the forest-covered region around the Periyar Lake as a private wildlife reserve. The main purpose of this was to discourage owners of tea plantations from advancing on the area since they would eventually clear the forest land to build tea gardens. A conservation effort was started in the forest known as Nelliyampathy Wildlife Reserve after India gained its freedom.

This national park enjoys the benefit of elevation because it is situated between the Pandalam Hills and the Cardamom Hills, or Yela Mala of the Western Ghats. The park is bordered to the north by Medaganam and Vellimalai and to the east by Kollimalai Peak. A plateau at an elevation of 1,200 metres (3,900 feet) lies to its west. Contrastingly, the Pamba River valley on the property has the lowest altitude at 100 metres.The 925 square kilometre (357 square mile) Periyar National Park &amp; Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kerala. In the main zone of this vast protected region, the Periyar National Park covers 305 square kilometres or 118 square miles.

Location: Kerala
Timings: 6:00AM TO 7:00PM
Distance from Kerala: 117.5Kilometre

Several times of day could be better for a safari excursion depending on the kind of wildlife you wish to see. The best time to go on a safari trip for bird lovers is early in the morning when many bird species are more active as they leave their nests in search of food. The optimum time for a safari trip is typically in the afternoon since the heat of the day forces larger mammals out of their hiding spots in search of water to cool down or fill their thirst. These creatures include tigers and elephants.

For a unique perspective on the park and the animals that call it home, take a boat excursion on the Periyar Lake in Periyar National Park. Depending on the sort of animals you hope to view, you should choose the optimal time for the boat excursion. Because they visit the lake to drink water during the hottest portions of the day, afternoon boating cruises can provide sights of bigger creatures like elephants.But, if you're interested in birding, going on a boat trip early in the morning might be a terrific opportunity to see water birds that are out and about at this time of day.

A Guide to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

India > Kerala > Periyar

21 Feb 2026

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