Periyar Tiger Reserve is situated in Thekkady, Idukki district. The nearest Railway station is Kottayam (110 kms). The nearest Airport is Cochin (200 kms), Kerala and Madurai (140 kms), TamilNadu. Buses are available to Thekkady from the Railway station and Airports. Various trekking programs are available and the visitors can choose one which suits them.
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Trekking in the forest area is an adventurous task. It will definitely prove to be a lifetime experience. If you're lucky enough, you might also get a chance to see some wild animals. The guides are really good making the trek even more interesting since they know the forests in and out.
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thekkady is a highly protected bio diverse land spread over 925 sq. km. Periyar Tiger reserve is one of the 48 Tiger Reserves in India. Two main Rivers Periyar and Pamba flow through this region. It is located in the Cardamom Hills which is in the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. The Periyar Park and Wildlife Sanctuary has the Periyar Lake along with Grasslands, tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests and different varieties of flora and fauna.
The Border Trekking is a full day (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) protection oriented range hike. Two groups of six members each are allowed per day. Each group has two guides and an armed forest guard. The trekkers will cover approximately 15 kms in which an altitude range of 900m to 1300m will be covered. It is a hard trek on a rugged terrain. Sloth Bears, Elephants, Snakes, Monkeys and Deer can be sighted along with different varieties of birds and insects. The view from the top is fantastic. The tea plantations and cardamom plantations can be seen during the trek. The Trekker gets many opportunities for a perfect photograph. Though many animals can be sighted, getting a glimpse of a tiger is very rare. Vegetarian meal will be provided en route.
The Tiger Trail trekking program is offered in two packages. Package 1: Two days and one night. Package 2: Three days and two nights. Maximum of 6 tourists are taken per trip. Five guides and one armed Forest guard will accompany the group. The guides were once Poachers and Tree cutters inside the Park. The guides have complete knowledge of the terrain and the flora and fauna of the park. The trekkers will cover approximately 20 kms to 35 kms depending on the route they choose. The trekkers will be taken through hills, valleys, plains and wide open spaces. Giant squirrels, Nilgiri Langur, Sambhar Deer, Bison and Elephants can be sighted. The lucky ones could see a tiger too. The guides will help in setting up a tent for night camping. Vegetarian meals will be prepared and served on the way.
Jungle scout is a night time trekking program where the group will scout as a volunteer along with the regular jungle border protection squad. The visitors may encounter wild animals in the night. Kerala forest Department provides cottages at various budgets namely The Bamboo Grove, Jungle Inn and Jungle Camp.
