This wildlife sanctuary 110 km south of Kochi is centred around the enormous Periyar Lake. Interestingly the lake is a man made one, built with the Mullaperiyar Dam a century ago. But the eco-system that has flourished around it is a wonderful sanctuary for birds and animals. Periyar was declared a tiger reserve in 1978 and apart from the royal beast you can also see large herds of elephants, gaur, sloth bear, lion-tailed macaque, slender loris, flying squirrel and many water birds.

How to get to Periyar and when to go:
Nearest airport: Kochi
Nearest station:  Kottayam - taxis available from there.
By road: Drive via Kochi Kottayam - Kanjirapally - Thekkady

When to go: September to March are the best months as the weather is pleasant. However, in the hot summer months of April and May wildlife sightings are good as the animals come out of the forest in search of water. It is closed from Jun to Aug, in the monsoons.

Permits:
Deputy Director, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady. Tel: 04869 - 222027, 222028

This rolling green stretch of grassland in the Western Ghats is home to the Nilgiri tahr, a quaint mountain goat that is mainly found here. The Eravikulam sanctuary is a short distance from the beautiful hill-sation of Munnar and is the highest spot in the region. The grasslands are interspersed with small patches of shola forest that have a variety of small animals, insects, butterflies and exquisite orchids.

How to get to Eravikulam and when to go:
Nearest airport: Kochi
Nearest station: Aluva
By road: Drive to Munnar from Kochi, via Aluva and Udumalpet.

When to go: This sanctuary is open all around the year and has wonderful climate to go with it. For a short period around Jan to March it closes due to the calving season of the tahr. The exact dates are announced every year by the Forest Dept.

Permits:
Office of Wildlife Warden,
Eravikulam National Park, Munnar.
Tel : 04865 - 231587

Website: www.eravikulam.org

SILENT VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Imagine an eco-system that has seen uninterrupted evolution for the past 50 million years - it exists in our country, in the Silent Valley National Park, Kerala! This is due to the unique landscape of this dense patch of pristine rainforest, surrounded by deep cliffs and gorges of the Nilgiri mountains and the Kunthi River, making it impossible for humans to set foot here. 

Now-a-days tourists can enter the park by hired vehicle (only up to 1 p.m.) or walk in by foot escorted by a guide. The forest department manages all the facilities for touring and accommodation. However, Palakkad, the closest town has several private resorts too.

The park is famous for its rare orchids and butterflies. Among the animals found here are tiger, leopard, elephants, gaur, deer, and lion-tailed macaque and Nilgiri macaque.

How to get to Silent Valley N P:
Nearest airport: Coimbatore or Kochi
Nearest station: Palakkad Junction
By road: From Palakkad reach Mannarkad, and then take the Anakatti Road to Mukkali. Buses ply from Bangalore, Chennai and Trivandrum to Palakkad.