Situated in the Cardamom hills region of the Western Ghats, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular wildlife reserves in India.
The park was created by the royal family of Travancor to preserve their favorite hunting grounds from the encroachment of tea plantations, and centers on a vast artificial lake that was created by the British in 1895 to supply water to the drier parts of the state. It is home to a great variety of game including elephant, sambar, wild pig, mongoose, the Malabar flying squirrel and almost 300 species of bird. Leopards and dwindling numbers of tigers are also here but are rarely glimpsed by visitors. Most people view Periyar from the lake, however many visitors prefer to explore by foot. Local guides take small groups on treks of various lengths, however visitors should avoid the weeks immediately following the monsoon, when leeches make hiking virtually unbearable.
The park lies 75 miles southeast of Kochi at cool altitudes, between 900 - 1800m. The best time to visit is from December to April, when the dry weather draws animals from the forest to drink at the lakeside. Periyar is also a good base for day-trips to visit the local tea and spice plantations, and see the waterfalls and views within the Cardamom hills.
