Wildlife is best experienced up close, and not through the bars of a cage.

People think that bars and cages protect the people from danger while allowing them to witness life in the wild.  Although the first part might be correct, the second is inaccurate as the cages also hinder the movement and behavior of the animals.  To see them in their natural habitat is the only right way.

Travel to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Roads connect the sanctuary to the nearest major cities.  Since it does span a huge area of land though, the closest town with a major transportation site is around 120 kilometers away.  Both Kottayam and Changanassery have railway stations, while Madurai would hold the nearest airport.  The Cochin International airports is 190 kilometers away, and could be one of the most direct paths to take to the reserve if the plan is to travel by air.

History of Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Although this was declared a reserve in the year 1978, the area came into existence when a dam was built on the river Periyar in the year 1895.  The water became the place where animals gathered, and where animals were gathered the predators came to feast.  This has made the sanctuary a breeding ground for tigers and other predatory animals.

Tourism in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Though the sanctuary itself covers over 700 square kilometers of land, only a small portion of it is included in the area that could be toured.  Even with the limitation in area, tours have been planned and executed in such a way that it promises maximum satisfaction for all tourists who participate.

This particular sanctuary is known for the number of elephants that are immediately in the area.  Not all of these are wild though, and one particular safari is done on the back of elephants.  People are able to ride around the jungle on the animal that is known to have no natural enemy.

Another way to tour the sanctuary would be by boat.  Boats are scheduled to leave in groups, and they travel silently over the water and go from one shore to the next, allowing those in the tour to watch the animals come to the lake to quench their thirst.

Life in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is extremely diverse, and this includes the amount of plant life that is found on the reserve.  As this area is left generally untouched, other than the few safaris that pass by on a daily basis, the air is crisp and tourists can lounge around in areas and discover the variety of greenery that exist on the hills of Periyar.  Some say that the air itself is different in the sanctuary, as so many plants contribute to the scent of the land.

Watching wildlife from a few meters away would certainly be an experience to remember, but imagine viewing a forest from on top of an elephant.  This would be the best way to experience the wild, and this is what Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary offers every tourist who travels to this sanctuary.  Plan a tour to this reserve, and you gain memories that would last you for the rest of your life.