The Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is set high in the ranges of the western ghats, in Kerala. It is home to a large variety of birds, animals and plant life. A beautiful lake in the heart of the sanctuary provides drinking water for the wild life. It is also an ideal setting for boat cruises to see the animals visiting the lake.

Herds of elephant and sambar, gaur and wild pigs can be seen on the shores of the lake. During the driest season here, the animals spend a lot of time near the lake and the elephants can be seen bathing and swimming in the reservoir. An occasional glimpse may be had even of the tiger during this season, as it comes to the water looking for prey or to quench its thirst.

Also found in Periyar is the leopard, wild dog, barking deer and mouse deer. Monitor lizards can be seen basking in the sun on the higher reaches of the park. Pythons and sometimes even a king cobra are commonly seen in the park.

Periyar is also home to some of the unusual species like the flying lizard and the flying snake. The brightly coloured flying lizard can be seen as it glides from one tree to the other. The flying snake is also brilliantly coloured in yellow and black and can be seen in the sliding past the thick undergrowth.

Bothe local and migratory birds are attracted by this nature reserve. The most common are the darter, cormorant, grey heron, ibis. They are seen perched on the dead tree trunks that are found near the shores of the lake. The great Malabar hornbill and grey hornbill are often seen flapping their colorfull wings and feeding their young on the tree tops. There are kingfishers, ospreys and kites as well as hill mynas, parakeets, including the unusual blue winged parakeet and fly catchers. The Malabar whistling thrush can be heard over the din of the jungle and the loud call of the hornbills are distinctive amid the normal sounds of the jungle.

Four species of primates are found at Periyar, the rare lion tailed macaque, the Nilgiri langur, common langur and bonnet macaque. Though this is also the habitat of the Nilgiri tahr, this rare and elusive goat is rarely seen.

The best way to see the animals is from motorlaunches and watch towers. A summer palace of the former Maharaja of Travancore, along the lake has been converted into a hotel and is a fine place to stay.

Learn to co exist with nature. Do not destroy it