Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

 
 


Quick Getaways near Periyar

Vaikom near Periyar

Vaikom - The Vaikom Mahadevar temple is one of the most celebrated Shiva temples in South India. The annual festival is celebrated in the month of scorpio, and the twelfth day of the festival is Vaikkattu Ashtami. Each day witnesses special rituals, elephant processions, music and dance performances etc. The Ashtami festival involves a special darshan in the wee hours of the morning under the peepul tree, a feast at noon and a procession at night from the nearby Udayanapuram Subramanya temple.

Ettumanoor - Ettumanoor is located 12 Kms northeast of Kottayam town. The ancient Siva temple here has brought glory and fame to the place. Myths have it that the Pandavas and the sage Vyasa had worshipped at this temple.The name of the place had its origin from the word 'manoor', which means ‘the home of deer’. The Arattu festival of this temple is celebrated on a grand scale on the Thiruvathira day in Kumbham (February-March) every year. Large number of people flock to this temple on the 8th and 10th day of the festival when seven and half elephants made of gold (nearly 13 Kms) are held in public view.


Thattekad Bird Sanctuary - In the dense tropical evergreen and deciduous forests and grassland patches of Kerala is located the Thatekkad Bird Sanctuary. Home to a wide array of Indian birds with about 500 winged species, the sanctuary was planned by Dr. Salim Ali, the renowned ornithologist. This bird sanctuary, a peninsular land of 25 sq km is covered with deciduous forests and plantation of rosewood, teak etc. Rare birds like the Crimson-Throated Barbet, Bee-eater, Sunbird, Shrike, Blackwinged Kite and the Night Heron are commonly spotted. This rare sanctuary offers quaint landscapes, and is a nature

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary near Periyar

lover's paradise. Bombay Natural History Society has identified 253 species here. The rivers are rich in fishlife and are shallow for most of the year.

Idukki - With its name derived from the word 'idukku' that means gorge, it is situated on the site of Idukki dam, the second highest dam in India. It houses a sanctuary established in 1976 and a forest reserve. One can spot large herds of elephants in the sanctuary and, at slight elevation, even some species of the deer and tiger.

Getting There & Away to Periyar

Flights to Periyar The nearest airports are Madurai (140 km) and Kochi/Cochin (200 km).
Trains to Periyar The closest railhead at Kottayam is 114 km away.
Car and Bus Service to Periyar
Take a bus to Kumily which is the town bordering the park. Buses are available from neighbouring places such as Madurai, Kottayam, Kochi, Ernakulem, Kodaikkanal and Kovalam. Taxis can be hired from most towns.

Getting Around in Periyar

Locals use jeep or bikes for commuting. The other, and most popular, mode of transportation is to hire your own boat or to take a tour on the passenger ferries that move around the lake. These motor launches operate 2-hour trips on the lake.
Paragpur Holiday Packages

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