Location: Thekkady, about 4
km from Kumili
in Idukki district, Central Kerala
The pride of
Kerala and a testimony to nature's splendour and
human innovation, the
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the banks of the
Periyar Lake -
an artificial lake, at Thekkady. Here the high ranges of the
Western
Ghats are clothed in dense evergreen, moist deciduous forests
and
savannah grasslands. Below this thick green canopy roam herds of
elephants,
sambars, tigers, gaurs, lion tailed macaques and Nilgiri
langurs.
In addition to elephant rides, cruises on the lake and
treks
to the ruined Mangaladevi temple - a beautiful old stone temple
situated in the
heart of the Thekkady forest; this sanctuary offers the
unique opportunity to
watch and photograph wild elephants at close
quarters.
Lake Palace and Aranya Nivas are two idyllic
accommodation
options set in the sylvan lake side background. The
romantic Lake Palace,
formerly a summer retreat of the Maharaja of
Travancore, is built on a small
island accessible only by boat. Aranya
Nivas (Jungle Retreat) a stone lodge with
rubble masonry and colonial
style of architecture at the head of the lake is a
premium property of
the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.
Getting
there:
Nearest railway station: Kottayam, about 114
km.
Nearest airports: Madurai (Tamilnadu) about 140 km; Cochin
International
Airport, about 190 km. |
