Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala

About Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

The Waynad Wildlife Sanctuary in the southern Indian state of Kerala is a must for tourists looking forward to experience a bit of wilderness during their travel in Kerala. A part of the Waynad Plateau, this wildlife park in Kerala is famous for its tigers and leopards along with the other wildlife that one can find during holidays
in Waynad. The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary comprises two districts of Kerala i.e. in the north; it is a part of the Cannanore district while its southern part is located in the Calicut district. The park extends from the latitude 11°15′ in the North to the longitude 76°30′ in the East. There is a good road network that connects the sanctuary with the other important places in Kerala.

Wayanad literally means the ‘land of swamps’.Rich in bio-diversity, the sanctuary is an integral part of the nilgiri biosphere reserve, which has been established with the chief objective of conserving the biological heritage of the region.The region, which is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, was notified in the year 1973 as a wildlife sanctuary. The management of the park laid emphasis on creating scientific conservation methods that are complementary to the traditional lifestyle of the tribals residing in the region.

Climate :

The climate of the region is very much influenced by the southwest monsoon that touches it in the months from June to September. There is good rainfall during the Northeast monsoon too in the months of October and November. July receives the highest rainfall while February is the driest month here. April and May are the hottest months here while coldest months are January and February.

Fauna :

It houses elephants, tigers, panthers, jungle cats, civet cats, monkeys, wild dogs, bisons, deer, bears, Monitor lizards and a variety of snakes are seen.

Avifuana :

It houses Peacocks, babblers, cuckoos, owls, woodpeckers, jungle fowls are a few of the various types of birds seen here.

Flora :

Teak, maruthu, karimaruthi, rosewood, venteak, vengal, chadachi, mazhukanjiram, bamboo etc. grow in the moist deciduous forest. Veteria indica, lagerstroemia, lanceolta, terminalia paniculata etc. are common in the semi evergreen patches.

Getting There

By Air :
The nearest airport is Calicut. From Calicut Airport, KTDC buses and taxis are available to move to Wayanad. Private taxis and buses are also an option to the tourists.

By Rail :
The district is well connected by a railway network.

By Road :

Wayanad’s Headquarters, Kalpetta is linked by road to other towns in Kerala and there are frequent buses to Calicut. SOme major city distances from Wayanad are: Calicut- 98 km, Kasargod- 216 Km, Trivandrum- 502 Km and Cochin- 286 Km.

SILENT VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

SILENT VALLEY NATIONAL PARK ,KERALA

Area      89 sq km
Altitude     658 – 2,383 metre above sea level
Maximum Temperature     39°C
Minimum Temperature     20.4°C
Language    Malayalam, English
Best time to visit    September to March
STD Code     04924 (Mannarghat)

INTRODUCTION TO SILENT VALLEY:

Located in the Kundali Hills of the Western Ghats, the Silent Valley National Park holds a valuable reserve of rare plants and herbs. The park is rich in its wildlife, and elephants, lion-tailed macaques and tigers are the most common denizens of this park. A visit to this park should be considered a lifetime experience, as this is the last representative virgin tract of tropical evergreen forests in India.

Though smaller in size in comparison to the other national parks in India, what makes it unique is the sylvan environment the region has along with its high altitude peaks and several rivers that run through it.

HISTORY OF SILENT VALLEY:

Silent Valley has a very eventful history in comparison to the other wildlife parks in the country. The local name for the park is Sairandhrivanam (the forest in the valley) and had been a centre of hot debates and protests in the decades of the 70′s and 80′s of the 20th century. The history of the park goes way back to 1888 when the region was declared a reserved land under the Forest Act and later notified as a Reserved Forest by the Government of Madras in 1914.

In the later half of the 1970′s, Kerala State Electricity Board decided to construct a Hydel Power Project in this region and when in 1980, this region was declared as National Park, the area of Hydel Project was not included. This started fierce discussions and protests and the Board had to drop its plan. Subsequently, in 1984, the park was again renotified as a National Park with the project area included. In 1986, the Silent Valley was declared the core area in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

LOCATION OF SILENT VALLEY:

The Silent Valley National Park is situated in the Palghat or Palakkad district of the southern Indian state of Kerala. A part of the Western Ghat along the Arabian Sea, the park extends from latitude 11°04′ in the North to longitude 76°79′ in the East. The park is contiguous with Attappadi Reserve Forests in the east, and vested forests of the Palghat and Nilambur divisions in the west and south. In the North, the park is an extension of the Nilgiri Forests.

BEST TIME TO VISIT SILENT VALLEY:

The Silent Valley National Park is a heavy rainfall region with the places in the higher altitudes getting the highest rain. The average rainfall in the region varies between 2800 and 3400 mm. The park receives most of its rainfall during the southwest monsoon from June to December. The relative humidity is considerably high during this season with the maximum at times going to 95%. April and May are the hottest months while January and February are the coolest months, though not much difference in the temperature is experienced.

TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS In SILENT VALLEY:

FLORA IN SILENT VALLEY-
The vegetation of this park is tropical moist evergreen forest with the special status of Rain Forests. The main plants are teak, semal, amla, rosewood, and bamboo.

On the basis of altitude, one can divide the vegetation types in four different categories. The tropical evergreen forests comprise extensive dense forests along the hills and valleys. The sub tropical hill forests take the areas of higher altitude while the temperate forests are characterized by the unrelated evergreen species with a dense closed canopy. The grasslands are mainly limited to the higher slopes and hilltops in the eastern sector.

FAUNA IN SILENT VALLEY-
The park has a strong fauna population with many of the endangered species residing here. Most commonly seen here are elephant, tiger, lion-tailed macaque, gaur, wild pig, panther and sambar. Some other species of wildlife have also been recorded here including 15 species of invertebrates, two fishes, and two amphibians.

The park has a total of 26 species of mammals and 120 species of avifauna, many of them considered endangered. Apart from these, there are 11 species of snakes, 19 species of amphibians, and nine species of lizards in the park.

PLACES AROUND SILENT VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

In the vicinity of the Silent Valley National Park are situated wildlife sanctuaries such as the Parambikulam, Choolanur Peacock Sanctuary, Attappadi or Mountain Valley, and JP Smriti Vanam. Also in the vicinity are hill stations like Coonoor and commercial centers like Coimbatore.

HOW TO REACH SILENT VALLEY

BY AIR -
Peelamamedu Airport, Coimbatore (155 km from the Silent Valley National Park). Coimbatore is the nearest airport and there are regular flights to Chennai, Kozhikode, Mumbai, and Madurai of the Indian Airlines and Jet Airways.

BY RAIL -
Railway Station – Olavakkode Railway Station, Palghat (75 km from the Silent Valley National Park). The nearest railway station is Palghat connected to all the metros and most of the other important cities of the country by regular trains.

BY ROAD -
Bus Stand – Mannarghat (32 km from the Silent Valley National Park). Mannarghat is the nearest important township from where one can get buses to all the places in the region like Palghat, Coimbatore and others. There are frequent buses from Palghat to the Silent Valley National Park. Buses are also available from Coimbatore to the park.

WHERE TO STAY IN SILENT VALLEY

Rest houses are available in the park to stay in, though not many facilities are available. One can also stay at Palghat, which has a good number of accommodation options available. It is difficult to get food inside the park except for the local eateries so one should arrange in advance for food.

Tourism-of-India.com provides complete information on tourism in Silent Valley National Park. Tourism-of-India.com offers package tours in order to make your visit to Silent Valley National Park Pleasant.

Rajamala Wildlife Santuary

Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala

The Rajmala Wildlife Sanctuary is a very famous tourist attraction in India. It is just 15 kilometers from Munnar. Rajamala is the house of the acclaimed Nilgiri Tahr.

This exotic mountain goat is a great attraction of this sanctuary as it is one of the rare species of mountain goats.

There are numerous attempts to preserve these mountain goats and Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary is one of them.

Apart from the Nilgiri Tahr, the sanctuary also contains other fauna such as elephants. The Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary is well known all over the nation as well as around the world as it enjoys enormous visitors all the while.

The Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary happens to be a chunk of another sanctuary namely the Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. The visitors to this sanctuary are not permitted to visit the entire sanctuary. They can only call on the tourism areas that are in the Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary.

This method is used to conserve the wildlife of this region. The Nilgiri Tahr, the highlight of this entire sanctuary can be seen practically from any spot in the sanctuary. The sanctuary enjoys a vast inflow of tourists and is also well supported by the regional as well as the national bodies of administration.

Rajmala Wildlife Sanctuary gives the passionate animal lovers an opportunity to watch the most endangered species in its natural habitat.

The Nilgiri Tahr houses the world’s wild goat population, and the wildlife sanctuary is an approach to conserve this very rare species of the goat family that is gushing towards extinction.

The Nilgiri Tahrs is approximately estimated as 1317 in Rajamala. Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary also houses shelter to different wildlife in Kerala and bestows the tourists with various occasions to see rare creatures in natural surroundings.

Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala creates opportunity for the tourists to come adjacent to these creatures and to note their habits and habitats. Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the significant wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala that has an apt ambience making this place enjoyable for all the tourists. The expanse of flora is rich and is founded to conserve the rare species Tahr.

Other creatures habituating this conserve are Leopards, Sambars, Langurs, Tigers, Malabar civets, barking Deers, and pythons. All these rare species and the natural surroundings gratify the tourists to a great extend. In fact children enjoy watching animals at a closer proximity. However, being one of the best places of visit, it is worth visiting and enjoying the reality of animal life.

Location:
15 Kms From Munnar, Kerala

Main Attraction:
Nilgiri Tahr

Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuar

Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuar , Kerala

The Peechi Vazhani wildlife sanctuary is a golden paradice for the wildlife and nature lovers. Located at a distance of only 22 kilometers from Trissur, the Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary is a majestic destination for the tourists who love to see nature at its best. This wildlife sanctuary consists of the Palappilli- Nelliyampathi. These forests spread over a wide area and also encompass little bit of the Chimminy wildlife sanctuary.

Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary – Introduction

The Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the India’s most famous wildlife sanctuaries. It has one of the richest collections of flora and fauna. The Peechi Vazhani sanctuary is located between the dams of two rivers – Peechi and Vazhni of Trichur. These attract a great variety of birds, reptiles and other animal.

Wildlife in Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary:

The Peechi Vazhani wildlife sanctuary has a great variety of flora and fauna. In fact, there are only a few wildlife sanctuaries in India that has the variety like that of Peechi Vazhani wildlife sanctuary. The major species include spotted deer, leopards, bison, sambar deer, wild dogs, kraits, turtles, bison and elephants. The Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary is also blessed with tiger, barking deer, bonnet macaques, vipers, darters, little cormorants, and black eagles.

The Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary is also blessed with a large collection of herbs, shrubs, trees and climbers. Moreover, the Peechi Vazhani wildlife sanctuary is rich in its collection of snakes. Almost all the species found in India, are also found here.

Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary- Tourist Information

Climate : The climate here in Peechi Vazhani wildlife sanctuary is mostly pleasant. During the months of November to January, the temperature of this region varies from 15°C to 20°C. However, during the months of March to April, the temperature rises to about 38°C. This locality receives an annual rain fall of about 3000 mm on the average. The rainy season prevails during the months of June to August.
Best time to visit : The best Time to visit Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary is from October to March. During this time, the weather is very pleasant and charming.

Getting there -

By Road :
The Peechi Vazhani wildlife sanctuary is well connected to Kochi, Trissur and Chalakkudy.

By Rail :
The nearest railway station to Peechi Vazhani wildlife sanctuary is the Thrissur railway junction, which is only at distance of 22 kilometers.

By Air :
The nearest airport to Peechi Vazhani wildlife sanctuary is the Kochi airport which is at a distance of only 98 kilometers.

Located in Thrissur, Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary attracts wildlife lovers and nature observers from anywhere in the world to soak themselves completely in tranquility and beauty of its dense forests. The moist deciduous forests of the Trichur Peechi Vazhani national park are a haven for a variety of wildlife that consists of many rare species of animals, birds and plants as well. The sanctuary is situated in the basin of the Peechi and Vazhni dams of Trichur.

This sanctuary was established in the year 1958 in Kerala. There is a rich variety of flora and fauna in this sanctuary. One can find more than 60 varieties of plants that include rosewood, teakwood and orchids along with plants of medicinal value. Among the wildlife, one can find animals like leopards, sambar deer, wild dogs, barking deer, spotted deer, bison and elephants.

You can also find many types of snakes and other reptiles here. There is a hill near the sanctuary known as the Ponmudi peak, which goes upto a height of 923 meters. Take a trek on this peak and look at the breath-taking view of the sanctuary from the top of the peak. It is truly a magical experience and one that you shall never forget.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary , Kerala

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, situated on the banks of the Vembanand Lake is known for its varied avian population. Local varieties such as waterfowls, cuckoos and owls, as well as the migratory Siberian Cranes can be viewed here.

The Kumarakom Tourist Complex, sprawling over 101 acres of enchanting wooded land and lake, was built around the 50-year-old ‘Baker’s Mansion’, which was earlier a small hotel run by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC).

Now the complex has been renovated in grand style by the Taj Kerala Resorts Ltd. Boats are available on hire for a a cruise around the sanctuary.

The Western Ghats on its east and the Malabar Coast on its west, adorned with the emerald backwaters and exotic spice plantations, Kerala is blessed with a riotous variety of flora and fauna. Topped up with indigenous traditional cultural practices and art forms, Kerala is increasingly gaining momentum as a popular tourist destination all over the world. Showered with an eternal sunshine, Kerala- God’s own country is all nature lovers’ paradise. The lush tropical evergreen rain forests still largely miraculously unspoiled in Kerala, support a rich array of land, marine and avian wildlife. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary situated around the Vembanad Lake near the Backwaters is famous for its rich avian population. Bird watchers and photographers from all over the world flock to Kumarakom to catch sight of these little feathered angels every year.

The Residents of Kumarakom:

Spread across 14 acres around the Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary plays host to a large number of migratory birds like Siberian Stork and crane, flycatcher, teal, parrots, wood beetle. Beside these native birds like the kingfisher, heron, egret, owl, cuckoo, are seen in plenty.

Bird Viewing at Kumarakom:

The best and only means of bird viewing at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is by houseboats or motorboats. If you want the rustic rural touch, you can try to get hold of a local rice boat or fishing boat to watch the birds at play without disturbing their tranquility with the motor sounds. The Pathiramanal Island said to have emerged out of water as a boon to a Brahmin is also home to a large number of birds. The cruise to the island along the shimmering emerald waters of the lake is a truly memorable experience.

Climate and Vegetation:

Kumarakom is populated with paddy fields, coconut groves and mangrove forests. The ample rainfall and balanced tropical climate facilitates plant growth in these areas.

How to Reach:

The airports nearest to Kumarakom are Thiruvanthapuram International airport and Cochin International Airport. The nearest railhead is at Kottayam (16 km). regular bus and taxis are available from Kottayam too. If you want to travel by boat along the backwaters you can get a boat from Alappuzha to Kumarakom Jetty.

Indianholiday.com offer information on Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Kerala. For more information or to book a tour package to Kumarakom please fill up the form below.

Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary

Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala

The Idukki wildlife sanctuary is located about 40 km from Thodupuzha in the Idukki district of Kerala. It is one of the important tourist attractions in Kerala. The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of about 77 sq km in the Thodupuzha and Udumpanchola taluks of Idukki district. The Idukki sanctuary is located in the forest land between the Cheruthoni river and the Periyar river. There is a beautiful lake around the Idukki sanctuary, surrounded by a captivating cover of tropical evergreen and deciduous forests.

Some of the faunal life that can be spotted here are sambar, elephants, bison, deer, wild dogs, tiger, jungle cats, wild boar etc. Besides, different species of snakes including cobra, viper, kraits and numerous non-poisonous ones are also found here. Among the birds, mynah, jungle fowl, black bulbul, laughing thrush, peafowl, woodpecker, kingfisher etc. are seen in abundance. Another nearby attraction is the Idukki Dam.

Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is located at a distance of 40 kms from Thodupuzha. This sanctuary extends over the Thodupuzha and Udumpanchola taluks of Idukki district spreading over 77sq. kms, at 450 – 748m above sea level.

The Idukki reservoir formed by three dams-Cheruthoni, Idukki and Kulamavu-extends to 33 sq. km.

A picturesque lake, a majestic arch dam across two hills and roaming herds of elephants and gaur are sights that lure you to this enchanting canopy of tropical semi-evergreen and deciduous forests. The fauna also includes Langur, Leopard and Wild Boar.

How To Get There

By Air:

Kochi is the nearest airport.

General Information:

Location:

40 Kms From Thodupuzha, Kerala

Area:

77 sq. kms

Altitude:

450-758m Above Sea Level

Main Attraction:

Elephants

Prime Attractions of Idukki

Munnar:

The nature, absolutely untouched has led to the christening of this place as ‘Virgin Munnar’, in the tourism industry. Increasing fame and the growth of visitors may soon account to deletion of this description. more..

Kuthumkal Waterfalls:

The misty waterfall provides a picturesque view of the water, cascading down from scintillating heights. The sheer beauty of the place allures thousands of visitors every year.

Observatory Hills:

This is a beautiful hill located at Nedumkandam. It’s a perfect location for people who are interested in watching the heavenly bodies, as the sky here is free from pollution.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

The Western Ghats on its east and the Malabar Coast on its west, adorned with the emerald backwaters and exotic spice plantations, Kerala is blessed with a riotous variety of flora and fauna. Topped up with indigenous traditional cultural practices and art forms, Kerala is increasingly gaining momentum as a popular tourist destination all over the world. Showered with an eternal sunshine, Kerala- God’s own country is all nature lovers’ paradise. The lush tropical evergreen rain forests still largely miraculously unspoiled in Kerala, support a rich array of land, marine and avian wildlife. The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary on the Western Ghats makes an excellent holiday for wildlife enthusiasts.

Wildlife at Chinnar:

The endangered Giant Grizzled Squirrel hails from these forests. Apart from that tigers, elephants, gaur, deer, sambar, are the other vertebrates that can be spotted. Among reptiles, watch out for Spectacled cobra, krait, viper. The black eagle, little cormorants and darters dot the skyline at Chinnar.

Vegetation at Chinnar:

The vegetation at Chinnar consists of dry deciduous forests, thorny scrub forests, high sholas and wet grasslands.

Climate:

Owing to its position on the rain shadow slope of the Western Ghats, Chinnar gets about 48 days of rain during the Northeast monsoon in October November.

How to Reach:

Chinnar is well connected to other places in and outside Kerala by road. The nearest Railway station is at Pollachi (60 km).

The nearest airports are a Coimbatore and Cochin.

Indianholiday.com offer information on Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala . For more information or to book a tour package to Chinnar please fill up the form below.

The Chinar wildlife sanctuary is located about 60 km from Munnar in Idukki district. Chinnar is home to the rare giant Grizzled Squirrel of India. In the last census, these squirrels counted around 200. The Chinnar wildlife sanctuary is located in the rain shadow area of the Western Ghats and therefore gets around 50 days of rain every year. Due to its undulating relief features, the Chinar wildlife sanctuary offers ideal condition for trekking.

There is a vast sandalwood forest nearby the Chinnar sanctuary, which adds to the attraction of the wildlife sanctuary. The sandalwood forest provides an ideal place to watch herds of Bison pass by. Dry deciduous forests, high sholas and wet grasslands multiply the diversity of the wildlife sanctuary. Herds of Spotted Deer, Elephants, Sambar, Monkeys and Peacocks can be spotted while traveling from Karimuthi to Chinnar.

Location:

Idukki, Kerala

Main Attraction:

Giant Grizzled squirrel, Elephants, Spotted Deer

Best Time:

One can visit the sanctuary almost throughout the year except during the months of October and November. Visiting time: 0700 -1800 hrs.

Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary

Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, Kerala

Location:      Kothamangalam, Idukki
Main Attractions:     500 species of birds

Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary KeralaThe Thattekkad bird sanctuary was set up in the year 1983 by the renowned ornithologist of India, Dr. Salim Ali. It is located in the Kothamangalam district of Idukki. One of the most famous landmarks in Kerala, Thattekkad bird sanctuary is home to almost 500 species of exotic birds. The thick tropical deciduous and evergreen cover is a safe haven for these winged creatures.

The sanctuary is spread over an area of 25 square kilometers and is located between the tributaries of the Periyar River. The fascinating birds that are found here are Bee-eater, Falcon Grey, Jungle Fowl, Black Winged Kite, Shrike, Crimson-throated Barbet, Ceylon Frogmoth, Sunbird, Night Heron, Blue winged parakeet, white-breasted water hen, rose-billed Roller, Hornbill, etc. The sanctuary is a paradise for bird watchers and nature lovers.

Apart from the birds, one can find atleast 28 species of animals and many varieties of reptiles here. Animals like the leopard, bear and porcupine are found over here often. One can see herds of elephants also occasionally. Among the reptiles, one can find cobra and pythons resting here and there.

The sanctuary flourishes not only in wildlife but also has a variety of plants. One can find teak, mahogany and rosewood in large numbers in this sanctuary. Such trees are responsible for the lush green cover that blankets the sanctuary.

How to Reach Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary Idukki

By Air
The nearest airport is at Kochi, located at a distance of around 70 kilometers.

By Rail
Located at a distance of 48 kilometers, Aluva is the nearest railway station.

By Roads
The sanctuary is well connected to the rest of Kerala by a wide network of roads and is easily accessible.

Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary

Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary , Kerala

The Shendurni wildlife sanctuary is a preferred wildlife destination for the tourists. Located at a distance of only 70 kilometers from Kollam, on the Kollam-Shencotta road, the Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary is a majestic place where the tourists can see nature at its best. It is a place where the rare species of the forest life reside under the secured cover of thick greenery.

Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary – Introduction

The Shenduruny wildlife sanctuary is home to numerable animals like elephants, wild boar, tigers, leopards, bisons, langurs, sambar, lion-tailed macaques and deer. West coast tropical evergreen forests also inhabit the sanctuary. It is interesting to note that the Shenduruny forest gets its name from a widespread species of tree called Chenkuruny (Gluta travancoria). In the heart of the forest is located a 26 sq km artificial lake formed by the Parappar dam built across the Shenduruny and Kulathupuzha rivers. The lake forms one of the important attractions of the region.

The Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary has one of the richest collections of flora and fauna. Situated at the banks of the river Shendurny, it is one of the India’s most famous wildlife sanctuaries one he river bank. It is in fact the most preferred picnic spot in India. The presence of the river makes its beauty a real charm to the viewers.

Wildlife in Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary:

The Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary is blessed with a large collection of herbs, shrubs, trees and climbers. Moreover, the Shendurni wildlife sanctuary is rich in its collection of evergreen and semi-evergreen trees. Almost all the species found in India, are also found here.

The Shendurni wildlife sanctuary has a great variety of flora and fauna. In fact, there are only a few wildlife sanctuaries in India that has the variety like that of Shendurni wildlife sanctuary. The major species include vipers, bison, sambar deer, wild dogs, kraits, turtles, darters, leopards, and elephants. The Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary is also blessed with barking deer, bonnet macaques, spotted deer, tiger, little cormorants, bison and black eagles.

Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary- Tourist Information

Climate : The climate here in Shendurni wildlife sanctuary is mostly pleasant. During the months of November to January, the temperature of this region goes down to 15°C. However, during the months of March to April, the temperature rises to about 35°C. This locality receives an annual rain fall of about 4567 mm on the average. The rainy season prevails during the months of June to August.

Best time to visit :
The best Time to visit Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary is from March to July. During this time, the weather is very pleasant and charming.

Getting there -

By Road :
The Shendurni wildlife sanctuary is well connected to Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, and Trissur.

By Rail :
The nearest railway station to Shendurni wildlife sanctuary is the Kollam railway junction, which is only at distance of 40 kilometers.

By Air :
The nearest airport to Shendurni wildlife sanctuary is the Thiruvananthapuram airport which is at a distance of only 140 kilometers.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

Location :      Kumily, Kerala
Nearest Access :     Kumily (4-kms)
Main Wildlife Found :     Elephants, Tiger, Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Langur
Coverage Area :     777-sq-kms

About Periyar Wildlife :

Set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in God’s Own Country, Kerala, is the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. Periyar wildlife sanctuary has a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a permanent source of water for the local wildlife. Though its a Tiger Reserve, tourists come here to view the Indian elephants in the act of ablution and playfulness by the Periyar lake.

Major Wildlife Attractions in Periyar National Park:

Apart from Elephants, the other animals to be seen in the Periyar sanctuary are Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Dole or Indian Wild Dog and very rarely, a Tiger. There are, now, an estimated 40 tigers here. Four species of primates are found at Periyar – the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, Common Langur And Bonnet Macaque. Periyar also happens to be the habitat of the elusive Nilgiri Tahr, which is rarely to be seen.

The birdlife comprises of Darters, Cormorants, Kingfishers, the great Malabar Hornbill and racket-tailed Drongoes. The reptilian population boasts Of Monitor Lizards that can be spotted basking in the sun, on the rocks along the lakeshore. Visitors who trek into the Periyar national park often see a Python and sometimes even a King Cobra.

In the lap of the mountains, the Periyar wildlife sanctuary’s environ is like a canvas of many shades. The fresh air of the moist deciduous forest gives one a chance to experience the peace and serenity and long to return for more.

Other Attractions in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary:

Kumily : Situated just 4-kms from Periyar, Kumily is a growing town where tourism is fastly catching up just like the spice trade, the major occupation of this small town. The town is also well equipped with the excellent hotels and resorts for accommodation.

Cradomom Hills :
Periyar and Kumily are the most convenient points from which visitors can easily explore Kerala’s beautiful Cardamom hills. Guide will approach you at offers of trips via jeep or taxi to the hills and if you can get a group together, these trips work out as a good travel value.

Boat Cruises :
Boat cruises make the best option to check out the wilds of Periyar Sanctuary.Today the Periyar lake presents an excellent boating spot for tourists. Although it is unusual to see many animals from the boats, still you spot a family of Elephants, Wild Boar, and Sambar Deer by the water’s edge. The upper deck is best for wildlife viewing when taking a boat cruise, but better turn up half an hour early to get the best seat. To maximise you chances, take the 7.00 am boat. You can also consider renting your own boat.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Best Time to Visit Periyar:

The best season to visit Periyar wildlife sanctuary is from the months of October and June.

How to Get there

Air : Kochi (Cochin) at 200-kms or Madurai in Tamil Nadu at140-kms are the nearest airports from Periyar.

Rail : Kottayam at 114-kms is the nearest railhead from Periyar.

Road : Kumily, the nearest town from Periyar is well served by both state and private buses from Kottayam, Ernakulam and Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

General Info / Tips:

Note : After heavy rains, chances of good wildlife sightings are very slim as the animals only come to the lake, when water sources inside the forest have dried up.

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