The
very sound of the word Thekkady conjures up images of elephants,
unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. It is also
known as Periyar because of the Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary. The
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary: Lying close to the plantations, in the
rich jungles of Periyar in Thekkady is one of the world's most
fascinating natural wildlife reserves - the Periyar Wildlife
Sanctuary. Spread across 777 sq. km, of which 360 sq. km is thick
evergreen forest, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a
Tiger Reserve in 1978.
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The definition is transparent. Say
Thekkady and the whole of Kerala will cheer up to playful herds of
elephants wandering in the unending chains of hills. However, if you
visit Thekkady (named after 'thekku', or teak trees), you will find
that it is not as simple as it seems.
For time immeorial,
Kerala is known for its spices and traders crowd here for commercial
gains. So how these slanting hills of Western Ghats cannot
encourage, but sit idle to the ambrosial aroma of the Indian spices?
It is a country that exudes the spirit and ethos of nature. Plan a
holiday tour to the place where you can feel nature at every twists
and turns.
Stay in one of those raw cottages modelled
after the jungle dwellings of the local tribal inhabitants. And a
trip to Thekkady will make you articulate enough to describe your
experiences in God's own country so vividly, that many people will
soon be eager to follow your itinerary in India.
Noted for
its geo-morphological diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty, the
Reserve attracts visitors from all over the world. The splendid
artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar
river adds to the charm of the park. This is the only sanctuary in
India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife
at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The
greatest attraction of Periyar remains the large herds of wild
elephants that come down to the lake's edge.
The crisp and
cool air will work wonders not just for your physical well being,
but your soul too. All in all, it will be an experience that will
have you transferred to Paradise every time you think of it. So get
set to visit Thekkady, a place that will amaze you beyond belief.
Periyar
Tiger ReservePeriyar Tiger Reserve, one of the famous
Wildlife Sanctuaries in India, spread across 777 Sq. Kms out of
which 360 Sq. Kms is thick forest, is one of the best places for
viewing wild elephants. There is a 26 Sq. Km. artificial lake formed
by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar river. A boat cruise on
the lake is a great way to watch the wildlife. Wild animals like the
Elephant, Gaur, Sambar Deer and wild boar, which can be easily seen
from close quarters during the serene boat ride. Other Mammals like
the Nilgiri Thar, the lion tailed macaque, the bonnet macaque, the
Malabar giant Squirrel, the flying Squirrel, the Tiger, the jungle
cat and the sloth bear are seen only once in a while. Around 265
different species of birds like the Hornbill, stork, woodpecker,
kingfisher, raptor, cormorant, grackle, darter etc. can also be
seen.
The splendid artificial lake formed by the
Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar river adds to the charm of the
park. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the
unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the
safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar
remains the large herds of wild elephants that come down to the
lake's edge.
Plantation ToursSpices are found
in abundance in Periyar. A guided Plantation tour to familiarize you
with different spices and plantations like cardamom, pepper, tea,
coffee, cloves, ginger, turmeric, nutmeg, cumin seed, garlic etc. is
a main attraction of Thekkady.
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How to Reach
- By Air
The nearest airport is Kochi
- By Rail
The nearest rail junction is Kottayam
- By Road
190kms from Kochi