Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary

Thekkady ( Periyar Wild life Sanctuary ) It is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries of the country and is also India's southern most tiger reserve. The sanctuary sprawls over an area of 777 sq. km. near a vast and attractive lake. The 26 sq. km. artificial lake was built by the British in 1895, to provide water to the temple town of Madurai in Tamilnadu. The sanctuary was created in 1934, by the old Travancore State Govt. It was designated as a part of 'Project Tiger' in 1973. The sanctuary is well known for viewing all aspects of elephantine. Besides tiger and elephants, Thekkady is a heaven for a wild life like bison, sambar, wild boar, spotted deer, leopard, Malabar flying squirrel, stripe necked mongoose, black Nilgiri kangurs, etc. There is also a rich variety of reptiles and amphibian. The sanctuary has over 265 species of birds, which includes the migrant birds. The park area is also full of floral wealth, with over 1965 flowering plants including 171 grass species, 143 species of orchids and the only South Indian conifer Podocarpus Wallichianus.

It is also known for its scenic beauty and bracing climate. A boat cruise on the serene waters of the lake is an excellent way to watch the wildlife and pristine beauty of the park. The best time to visit this park is from September to May, but the summer months are appropriate to view the wildlife. Other activities here includes trekking, elephant riding angling, etc.

Mullaperiyar Dam : This National Park in Thekkady is located around the Mullaperiyar Dam's reservoir.

The nearest airport: is Madurai, which is 140 km and Kochi (185 km), and Thiruvananthapuram (265 km).

The nearest railway: is Kottayam, about 119 kilometers. Another station is at Madurai located at a distance of about 130 kilometers.