Safaris on a Lake in the middle of the Jungle
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, nestled among the hills of the Western Ghats, is a major tourist attraction in the southern state of Kerala.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and tiger reserve is a National Park in the Southern Indian State of Kerala. This National Park is spread across two districts, Idukki and Pathanamthitta. It is in the middle of the Cardamom Hills; Periyar Lake is also located here.
The rainforests of this National Park comprise mainly of Evergreen and Semi-Evergreen vegetation. Wildlife in this region includes Gaur, Sambhar, Bison, many species of deer, Dholes or Indian Wild dogs and Leopards. But this Wildlife Sanctuary is most famous for its elephants. There are an estimated 900 elephants in this park. This park is now a Tiger Reserve and there are around 40 tigers here.
The primates in these forests are the lion-tailed macaque, the bonnet macaque, the common Langur and the Malabar Langur. The forest is also home to the elusive and endangered Nilgiri Tahr, a species of mountain goat. More than 200 species of birds have been spotted in the forests of this protected area. With the Periyar Lake in the middle, this sanctuary is a huge attraction for water birds and birds that prey on fish. The bird life here includes cormorants, kingfishers, darters, the Racket-Tailed Drongo and the Malabar hornbill.
The pachyderms, however, are a major attraction in this elephant-loving state. They move about in large herds and often come to the Periyar Lake to bath and drink.
Periyar Lake
The Mullaiperiyar Dam, constructed in 1895 over the Periyar River, created the Periyar Lake which covers an area of 26 square kilometers. This lake lies in the middle of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. This lake is the main source of water for the animals in this sanctuary, and is therefore visited by a lot of tourists who come to see the wildlife.
Boat Rides in Periyar
The forest department organizes boat rides on the lake for tourists who visit the Periyar Wildlife sanctuary. The boats take the tourists along the lake, cruising smoothly through the waters. These big boats are a safe and interesting method of taking a jungle safari here. If you are lucky, you can watch the elephants playing and bathing in the lake, other animals also coming down to the lake for drinking water. You can also spot many species of birds in and around this lake.
The seating capacity of these boats can range from fifty to one hundred and fifty. The timings of these boat rides are generally, 7 am, 9.30 am, 11.30 am and 2 pm and 4 pm in the afternoon. These boat rides are a popular attraction in Periyar; a ride through the lake, it’s beautiful surroundings and the thrill of spotting interesting wildlife along its banks making it a great option for tourists.
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the numerous Nature Reserves in the biodiversity hotspot of the Western Ghats. The huge herds of elephants and the opportunity to observe them at such a close proximity make this National Park very popular among tourists. The Boat Rides are the popular way to go on a jungle Safari here. The central location of this man-made reservoir attracts all kinds of Wildlife and hence is a thriving tourist spot.
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