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 Established in 1950 as a sanctuary, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala was declared a national park in 1982. It is considered by many wildlife enthusiasts as one of the best wildlife destinations in India. Located in the Cardamom hills region of the Western Ghats in the state of Kerala in SW India, it occupies an area of 777 sq km. The park has spread its reaches around the 5,500 hectare Periyar Lake created due to the erection of a dam on the Periyar River in the year 1895. Home to a considerable bulk of the enchanting wildlife in India, it draws its water requirements from the Periyar Lake.
Wildlife Species at Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary:
Flora:
The major part of the flora consists of Tropical Evergreen forests (covering 30,500ha) and Semi-evergreen forests (covering 27,500ha) around the reservoir, and moist-deciduous forests and woody plains in the central portion of the park. Teak, Rosewood, Terminalia, Eucalyptus, Sandalwood, Jacaranda (a hardwood timber tree with purple flowers), Mango, Jamun, Tamarind, Banyan, Pipal, Plumeria, Gulmohar and Bamboo form the main species of trees and plants here.
Fauna:
Elephants happen to be one of the most impressive of all the living creatures in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala. Viewing the elegant beast through the lake and the grasslands is an experience of a lifetime. Among the 49 species of mammals, 265 species of birds, 36 species of reptiles, 12 species of amphibians, 35 species of fish and 160 species of butterflies identified so far, the following are the main points of attraction in one of the greatest wildlife reserves in India - Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala:
Gaur
Sambar
Barking Deer
Mouse Deer
Dholes
Mongoose
Leopards
Nilgiri Tahr
Out of the 320 different species of birds found here the following are most famous:
Darters
Cormorants
Kingfishers
The Great Malabar Hornbill
Racket-Tailed Drongos
Apart from watching the wild beasts and birds, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary has a lot more to offer. Adventure trekking and camping; border hiking and bamboo rafting are some of the exciting adventure activities to be experienced in this park. The temple of Sabarimala in the buffer zone of the park is a famous pilgrimage spot which draws about 4 million pilgrims every year.
Accommodation near Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary:
Some of the quality accommodation options during your visit to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary are as follows;
Spice Village Hotel
Taj Garden Retreat
Lake Palace Hotel
www.jetworldholidays.co.uk offers online information on Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala.
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