A captivating blend of nature, adventure, and wildlife, Periyar National Park is the realm of wild Indian elephants who dominate the dense jungles of Thekkady. The park gets its name from River Periyar that runs through the forest to form the gorgeous Periyar Lake. Much favored by wildlife enthusiasts, nature lovers, adventurers, and trekkers- Periyar is a joy of nature! Welcome to Periyar National Park and explore its dense forests, aromatic spice plantations, and indulge in a bit of adventure.
Like most of the national parks in India, Periyar was once the hunting grounds of the royals and was declared a national park in 1982. Spread in an area of over 950sqkm, Periyar lies in a mountainous zone with wooded hills, undulating topography, and cardamom plantations. The park is home to Periyar and Pamba Rivers that form the major source of water supply here.
Though Periyar is home to the Indian elephants, it is also a designated tiger reserve under Project Tiger and is thus a refuge for the Royal Bengal tigers. Herds of elephants trod the jungle, and many tigers lurk in the dense bushes of Periyar. You may also sight the elusive Nilgiri Tahr, wild pigs, leopards, barking deer, lion-tailed macaque, sloth bear, and many more animals. Its beautiful lake and tall trees are home to a range of birds, including spectacular hornbills, Nilgiri wood pigeons, Oriental darters, Eurasian woodcock, and Sri Lankan frogmouth that fill the jungles with their whistles & calls.
Periyar offers you varied options for a perfect jungle safari. Go for a Jeep ride in the wilderness or a Maharaja-style Elephant Safari or cruise the waters of Periyar Lake in a Boat Safari. Spot a few animals, bask in the sunshine filtering through the leaves, and soak in the sights & sounds of the jungle.
On the outskirts of the park, lies Kumily, wrapped in lush green spice plantations, and seeped in a lingering aroma of the spices. Go for a guided Jeep Tour of the Cardamom Hills, walk through the narrow trails in pepper plantations, and get into a stress-free zone with aromatic oil massages offered at the many resorts here. This spice heartland of the country grows clove, ginger, cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, vanilla, nutmeg, and more! Watch the fascinating processing of these spices to make them ready for sale & export, and be sure to buy some aromatic samples.
This beautiful national park has much more to offer than a regular wildlife safari. Guided nature walks, cloud walks (treks), bamboo rafting on Periyar Lake, and night scouting with experienced jungle scouts, are some of the eco-tourism activities started lately to add to the eco-tourism experience at Periyar.
Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is open to tourist round-the-year. However, the best time to visit here would be in winter from November to February.
By Air - Cochin International Airport, Kerala (160kms) and Madurai Airport, Tamil Nadu (150kms) are the two closest airports to Periyar National Park.
By Rail - Kottayam, around 100kms away, is the closest railhead linking you to Periyar.
By Road - A well-maintained set of roads & highways, from both Kerala and Tamil Nadu, connect Periyar National Park with the nearby cities.
Well, this was just a peek into the jungles of Periyar, where wilderness not only brings peace but also a sense of adventure. Please fill the form, and we shall be happy to send you free quotes for a personalized experience in the gorgeous elephant country of Kerala.
We are 4 persons from Italy...we spent a lovely trip in Delhi and Ladakh...even if the weather couse us little problems the Caper Travel has solved it modifing the tour immediatly. Thanks Caper's staff!!!
Caper Travel designed a three week tour to Rajasthan and Goa for four of us in a private car during March. The driver, guides and everyone associated with the organisation were professional, reliable and punctual! We had an amazing time, made even better because of the good accomodation choices and extra additions, such as elephant and camel ride.
Thank you so much Caper for giving us a truly memorable experience of your beautiful country!
Just come back from an amazing 2 week trip to India. First we done the golden triangle which we chose to do the train trip from Delhi to Agra a must you have to do if not just for the experience. All the cities were wonderful. In mumbia we done a city tour and ended our trip in the taj for afternoon tea another must. They really looked after us thank you all.
I had memorable and incredible stay at Kerala. Caper Travel Agency - Hi life Tour arraigned everything more than perfect - transfers, transport, hotel accommodation, entire trips in Cochin, Periyar, Kumarakom, Alleppey, Kovalam, Trivandrum.All of my inners tours were more than fantastic. The Agency also arranged my additional request to participate in Holi celebration (Festival if colors).
I truly recommend Caper Travel. I trusted them and they fully deserved it.
This is my third trip with Caper Travel to India (from Canada). Again, they did not disappoint! I travel solo with just the Caper car and driver, and guide. Your trip is up to you if you want it to be and Caper will make it happen.
I will go again and again to India, and I will always choose Caper Travel.
Explore the most sought after destinations and attractions with our best selling tour packages
Celebrating
25 Year's of Excellence
Eight Times National Tourism Award Winner
Maharaja Express Preferred Sales Agent (PSA-IA)
Recognized by Ministry of Tourism Government of India