Periyar National Park , Thekkady Kerala

Indian Voyage

Planning a trip to Kerala this season? Include Thekkady or Periyar, famous for Periyar National Park and Periyar Tier Reserve to witness some amazing landscapes and beauty hidden in this dense forest. To make it adventurous, read here. #thekkady #kerala #periyar #tigerreserve #reserve #nationalpark #sanctuary #landscape #nature

Periyar National park, Kerala

Thekkady or Periyar Tiger Reserve? Are they all same and what do they entail? A Tiger reserve? Then why not a Tiger Safari, just like other Tiger Reserves? Why only a boating in a lake? Can we go for trekking also here? What all are the safari options available here?

So many questions were buzzing in my mind, when we were planning to visit Thekkady (Periyar) and to our sheer disappointment, none of the search reads could solve the curiosity.

So, FOTW shall try to share with you an exhaustive post of Periyar tiger Reserve and what all adventure activities one can do there.

Interested to know more about Alleppey backwaters and Poovar islands?

Thekkady, which is more commonly known as Periyar, due to the famousย  Periyar tiger Reserve and Periyar Sanctuary of Kerala. Around 140kms from Kochin Airport, Thekkady is one of the finest and dense forest reserve in India. The reason why Thekkady is popular is due to its picturesque plantations, beautiful hills, and mesmerizing landscapes, which entails deciduous forests and savanna grasslands. Nearly half the part of this Sanctuary (360 Sq kms) is covered with dense evergreen forests.

 

Planning a trip to Kerala this season? Include Thekkady or Periyar, famous for Periyar National Park and Periyar Tier Reserve to witness some amazing landscapes and beauty hidden in this dense forest. To make it adventurous, read here. #thekkady #kerala #periyar #tigerreserve #reserve #nationalpark #sanctuary #landscape #nature

The excitement to witness Elephants and Tigers in their natural wild habitat is a big reason for wildlife lovers to explore Thekkady/Periyar. It is a habitat of Tigers, Elephants, Sambar Deers, macaques, Foxes, Wild Buffaloes, Wild Dogs, Boars, Langurs, Monitor Lizards, and many more. It also encapsulates in itself some beautiful avifauna, which you canโ€™t miss to adore while taking around in the safari boat.

How did we roam around in Periyar in our Itinerary?

FOTW went to Periyar from Munnar, which took close to 3hours by our private car. The drive-through was majestic as the plantations, landscapes varied so beautifully, from Tea gardens to Coconut, Banana, Papaya, and many trees. every stretch looked beautiful with colorful flowers and the foggy hills. We had to opt for 2 alternate routes since one of the bridge and another road was broken due to heavy rains few days back. So, the road was in some bad condition for a little stretch, but nature kept us forgetting the kickbacks we were getting then.

Planning a trip to Kerala this season? Include Thekkady or Periyar, famous for Periyar National Park and Periyar Tier Reserve to witness some amazing landscapes and beauty hidden in this dense forest. To make it adventurous, read here. #thekkady #kerala #periyar #tigerreserve #reserve #nationalpark #sanctuary #landscape #nature

Where to stay at Periyar National Park :

Well, FOTW being adventure and nature enthusiast, we had booked a KTDC hotel, Arnya Nivas, a 3-star property, inside the Periyar Sanctuary itself. Basically, it was just a 2 min walk from the start of Safari Boat in the Periyar lake. We shall be sharing the hotel review soon, so stay hooked:).

Planning a trip to Kerala this season? Include Thekkady or Periyar, famous for Periyar National Park and Periyar Tier Reserve to witness some amazing landscapes and beauty hidden in this dense forest. To make it adventurous, read here. #thekkady #kerala #periyar #tigerreserve #reserve #nationalpark #sanctuary #landscape #nature

What to expect from Periyar Sanctuary/ Periyar tiger Reserve?

There are many Ecotourism programs In Periyar Sanctuary, but the most common is the Motorboat safari in the Periyar lake. Most of the tourists are not aware of the amazing other programs this sanctuary offers and can be taken to lift up the adventurous spirit in us.

Here are some of the adventurous programs offered by KTDC at Periyar Sanctuary :

Planning a trip to Kerala this season? Include Thekkady or Periyar, famous for Periyar National Park and Periyar Tier Reserve to witness some amazing landscapes and beauty hidden in this dense forest. To make it adventurous, read here. #thekkady #kerala #periyar #tigerreserve #reserve #nationalpark #sanctuary #landscape #nature

1.Border Hiking :

It’s a day-long program from 8am to 5pm and it takes the trekkers through some beautiful altitudes (900 m -1300 m) and border valley sightings. It is said that Elephants and Sloth bears are spotted at this stretch. This thrilling hiking is accompanied by two guides and an armed forest guard and is a must for nature seekers and wildlife enthusiasts.

2. Green Walk :

It is a 3 hour , 4-5km walk in the green of Periyar Forest. Look at the beautiful nature and applaud some of the sightings from close by with a tribal guide in this walk for nature lovers.

3. Jungle Scout/Patrol :

Wanna feel like a cop protecting the beautiful jungle and its fauna from the smugglers? Then opt for this Patrolling which starts by late evening from 7pm. Walking in the silence of the night, whistling sounds of tree leaves, cicadas on their high, this patrolling(with armed guards) is an awesome way to experience the nights of the jungle while protecting its wealth.

4. Bamboo Rafting :

A real thrill program which includes trekking as well as rafting. Starting as early as 8am, this leads you through rich habitats of the forest, you get to witness arboreal animals as Elephants, Langurs, Giant Squirrel and more. 3 hours of rafting in this duration, lets you witness the panoramic vie of the forest and the surrounding hills.

5. Periyar Tiger Trail :

The most adventurous trekking and camping program, it is of one night – 2 day adventure. It takes you through really interior trail of the forest, covering close to 25-30kms in the presence of 5 armed guards and a forest official as well.

6. Periyar River Boating

If you are adventure seeker then, Periyar Tiger trail and Night Patrolling are awesome options to explore the wealth of this forest.

We had requested for Night Patrolling, wherein one of us would go for the night trek and another would be with our kid. But, a night before there was lot of rainfall and so the forest from inside was too muddy and hence that day Night walk was cancelled for the tourists. Also, due to lack of time, we could not plan for Bamboo rafting which also involves a small day trek. But FOTW is planning soon to experience these activities in summer season!

Having stayed in the KTDC property, getting the boat safari tickets were pretty easy. But for those, who stay in properties outside the Periyar Sanctuary, need to ensure that the tickets are taken well before the boat safari timings.

Planning a trip to Kerala this season? Include Thekkady or Periyar, famous for Periyar National Park and Periyar Tier Reserve to witness some amazing landscapes and beauty hidden in this dense forest. To make it adventurous, read here. #thekkady #kerala #periyar #tigerreserve #reserve #nationalpark #sanctuary #landscape #nature

FOTWโ€™s experience : Periyar River Boating :

Do keep in mind that you are there to witness some awesome landscapes, changing backgrounds, some lovely birds and animals. But donโ€™t keep the expectation to witness Tigers or Elephants. You could be lucky by spotting them, but the nature will keep the charm alive in you. We went for the boating in the Periyar river twice, once in the afternoon and another in the morning (7am) and I was amazed by the beauty this region has. With the lush green grasslands, naked tree trunks, calm waters, witnessing both Sunset and sunrise while on this safari was indeed mesmerizing for us. The guides on the Boat play an important role in helping you spot some of the animals, which you could have easily missed, like, we did for Monitor Lizard and Bison!

Planning a trip to Kerala this season? Include Thekkady or Periyar, famous for Periyar National Park and Periyar Tier Reserve to witness some amazing landscapes and beauty hidden in this dense forest. To make it adventurous, read here. #thekkady #kerala #periyar #tigerreserve #reserve #nationalpark #sanctuary #landscape #nature

Planning a trip to Kerala this season? Include Thekkady or Periyar, famous for Periyar National Park and Periyar Tier Reserve to witness some amazing landscapes and beauty hidden in this dense forest. To make it adventurous, read here. #thekkady #kerala #periyar #tigerreserve #reserve #nationalpark #sanctuary #landscape #nature

The red, yellow and green trees, dense forest, chirping of birds and sometimes unidentifiable sounds from deep jungle keeps its charm all through the 2 hours of the ride. Nests of darters, spotting Kingfishers, catch of eagle in the sky above, preying of Wild dogs in the lake, group of sambhar deer, Spotting of Monitor lizard kept our eyes peeping right through the extra zoom lenses.

Planning a trip to Kerala this season? Include Thekkady or Periyar, famous for Periyar National Park and Periyar Tier Reserve to witness some amazing landscapes and beauty hidden in this dense forest. To make it adventurous, read here. #thekkady #kerala #periyar #tigerreserve #reserve #nationalpark #sanctuary #landscape #nature

Planning a trip to Kerala this season? Include Thekkady or Periyar, famous for Periyar National Park and Periyar Tier Reserve to witness some amazing landscapes and beauty hidden in this dense forest. To make it adventurous, read here. #thekkady #kerala #periyar #tigerreserve #reserve #nationalpark #sanctuary #landscape #nature

Donโ€™t be disappointed if you donโ€™t see Tigers or Elephants, but applaud the beauty this dense forest has. Praise the way its beauty has been maintained. Sit in the lap of nature for sometime and youโ€™ll be rejuvenated here in Thekkady/Periyar. Youโ€™ll have ample Instagram clicks, we vouch.

Food In Thekkady :

Well, food here was no issue, from Indian to Continental to Chinese, we got all variety basis our tastes. Most of the hotels have good dining option, just hop over to any good hotel nearby and youโ€™ll love the taste.

FOTW Important Notes for Periyar National park :

  1. Ensure to take the boating tickets timely. During the tourist season, the queues are pretty long:)
  2. Camera charges can be extra for Boating
  3. During rainy season the forest gets muddy and has many leeches, hence, one needs to wear full clothes along with leech proof boots (available at Periyar Reserve) while opting for Trek.
  4. Do take an extra Zoom DSLR lens to capture some beautiful rare sightings.

Follow our Travel Journey and witness some mesmerizing pictures on our Instagram handleย !

ย ย  Happy FOTW kid !!

I am taking my blog to the next level withย Blogchatterโ€™sย  MyFriendAlexa.Planning a trip to Kerala this season? Include Thekkady or Periyar, famous for Periyar National Park and Periyar Tier Reserve to witness some amazing landscapes and beauty hidden in this dense forest. To make it adventurous, read here. #thekkady #kerala #periyar #tigerreserve #reserve #nationalpark #sanctuary #landscape #nature

38 thoughts on “Periyar National Park , Thekkady Kerala”

  1. It is amazing to hear that Arnya Nivas was only 2 minutes away from the safari boat and my what an amazing reserve the national park is. I have to say I quite like the sound of banana rafting that sounds like a lot of fun!

  2. I’m not much of an outdoorsy kind of girl but I can completely understand why this would be the perfect place for somebody who is. So much to see and do and your photos are incredible! Nikki

  3. what mazes me most when I see pics from India are the terse color of the sky (looks like snow also when it’s too warm and humid) and the faces of people! Your travel tale is amazing!

  4. This looks like a place with beautiful scenery and awesome wildlife as well! I would love to visit someday, national parks are always high on my list when I’m traveling.

  5. My husband and I are national park enthusiasts and I’m sure we’d love Periyar National park. If we’re ever lucky enough to go, you can be we’d go Bamboo Rafting (for him) and go Border Hiking (for her). ps: Did you have a favorite animal that you saw while you were there? x

    1. That’s a good planning.. Well, we did saw a herd of Elephants, Monitor Lizards, Wild dogs preying their food in the lake. But, we were not lucky to see any tiger:(

  6. This is totally up my alley, I love doing anything outdoors! The bamboo rafting sounds especially adventurous and fun. You painted a perfect picture here, I would love to visit one day!

  7. I would love to see more photos of your trip. I haven’t gone to a safari and I would love to see the animals in their free form.

  8. This sucks! I mean I’ve heard about copying an post without credit or photo theft but this is a whole new level of bad carmaker. I am happy the site is down!

  9. This seems like a perfect holiday destination for nature lovers , trekking and boating sounds so exciting ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Kerala is one place I really want to visit and explore. This national park seems a great place to visit with kids!! Thanks for sharing!!

  11. The Periyar National PArk we visited a decade ago almost looked the same even now. We loved spotting monitor lizards every now and then from the boat. Reading this post was filled with sweet memories. We missed camping though.

  12. Border Hiking, Green Walk and Bamboo Rafting will appeal to all three of us in our family and would love to explore this beautiful and wild national park someday soon!

  13. Lovely pictures! We’ve been planning to take my kids there as they would love this experience. Staying in the sanctuary seems to be the best way to enjoy.

  14. We visited Thekkady a few years back and absolutely loved it. Going to check out Arnya Nivas on our next trip. It would have been quite an experience living inside the sanctuary.

  15. I had not heard about this place before but looking like a great place to explore and have fun with family. Lovely clicks. Would love to visit this sometime in future with my family.

  16. This is something which we have been planning but due to covid we couldn’t make it. But once everything becomes OK will definitely visit.. Beautiful place.

  17. Loved the post! It gave me a virtual tour on a place I always wanted to visit! I am waiting for the COVID scare to subside and then I will surely plan a trip with my kids and family to Periyar. Thank you for this informative post!

  18. This is such a wonderful post..took me down memory lane. I went to Periyar and Thekkady when I was in school. Almost 40 years ago. OMG..I am so old now. It was an amazing boat ride with the Elephant herds on the river banks.You brought it all alive for me…thank you so much.

  19. I would love to visit this tiger reserve some day. From your pictures it looks so pretty. I would like to indulge in bamboo rafting and periyar tiger trail for sure.

  20. Amazing pictorial visit to natural landscapes. Indeed a beautiful place to witness the beauty in India. Would love to visit

  21. Just a couple of days back we have made a promise to daughter to take her for a wild-life sanctuary trip as a reward for her good behavior during the lockdown. Glad I have read about this tiger reserve and the features it offers for visitors.

  22. This looks like a beautiful and close to nature kind of place . I love such greenery places . I will visit there once .

  23. Thanks for this post. We had gone to kochi a few years ago and really wanted to go to Periyar. But as you mentioned, there wasnt much information and we had less time. So it is still on our to visit list.

  24. There are lots of to explore in Periyar national park-like river rafting, bamboo rafting, river boating etc. A Beautiful place to visit, a chance to be close to nature.

  25. My husband loves national
    Parks and safaris and he would love this place. It looks so lovely. I would definitely check this out for our next trip.

  26. We have been planning to visit Kerala forever, it is the first place on our list to visit once this pandemic gets over ๐Ÿ™‚ I loved the pictures and detailed descriptions of the place.

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