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Kerala
- Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
- Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Eravikulam National Park
- Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary
- Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
- Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
- Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary
- Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
- Periyar Tiger Reserve
- Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary
- Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary
- Silent Valley National Park
- Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary
- Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
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Periyar Tiger Reserve
The Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is one of the most captivating wildlife parks in the world. Situated within the confines of the Western Ghats in Kerala, it spreads over 350 sq km.
It lies in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta. The protected area covers an area of 777 sq km, out of which a 350 sq km part of the core zone was made into the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, sometimes dubbed the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The park is often called by the name thekkady also.
The Periyar National Park is synonymous with elephants and one cannot be thought of without the other. Herds of playful wild elephants have made Periyar Lake their favorite haunt for frolicking in the water. Scores of them can be witnessed bathing and swimming here. Other inhabitants of Periyar include the leopard, wild dog, barking deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur (a primate), bonnet macaque, sambhar, porcupines, squirrels, gaur (Indian bison), wild boar, and
sloth bear. There are approximately 40 tigers in the area as per the latest reports. The tigers, along with the Nilgiri tahrs (a kind of a wild goat), are elusive creatures.
This is the only sanctuary in India where the wild elephant can be observed and photographed at close quarters. There are two watch towers in the Periyar forest.
Best time to visit : October to May, when it is not raining.