Periyar Tiger Reserve & National Park in Thekkady
· Summer: March-May (20°C - 36°C)
· Winter: October-February (16°C - 32°C)
Monsoon: June-September
Best time to visit:
September-March
Opening Time: 06:00 a.m.
Closing Time: 06:00 p.m.
Weekly Holiday: Nil
Entry Fees for Indians
Adults: INR 25
Children:
INR 5
Cameras: INR 25
Video Camera: INR 200
Entry Fees for Foreign Nationals
Adults:
INR 300
Children:
INR 105
Cameras:
INR 25
Video Camera:
INR 200
Exquisite settings of luxuriously green hills and valleys at Periyar National Park can overwhelm all your senses. Also a popular Tiger Reserve, the park is spread around Lake Periyar and is extremely admirable for the rich covers of tropical forests, spice plantations, tea and coffee gardens, eucalyptus, orchids and grasslands. Periyar is probably the most amazing wildlife destination of South India, with notable species like Bengal tigers, elephants, gaur, leopard, civets, macaques, jungle cats, Indian wild dogs, Indian giant squirrels and more.
The park is also a well-known birding destination with many native and migratory birds regularly spotted here. Trekking, jeep safari, elephant safari and boat safari offer thrilling explorations of the park. Visitors can also enjoy a plenty of eco-tourism activities like bamboo rafting, night trekking, green walks, bullock cart rides and so on. Additional fees are required for each of these activities and also for hiring guides and booking safari trips.
Connectivites
Road:
Periyar’s main entrance at Thekkady is accessible from all major destinations of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. National and State Highways connect cities like Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram and Madurai with Thekkady by state-operated buses and taxis.
Railway:
The closest railway station is at Teni (about 64 km. away). However, the Kottayam Railway Station (about 110 km. away) offers better rail connectivity. Hire a taxi from any of these stations to reach Thekkady.
Airway:
Cochin Airport (about 146 km. away) is the closest airport to the park, while another good option is Madurai Airport (about 150 km. away). Taxis are available at each of these airports to cover the road distance conveniently.