The Periyar Tiger Reserve

Sanctuary covering an area of 777 sq.km is a renowned destination for wildlife tourists and nature enthusiasts. The vistas of Periyar with its creeks, islets and peninsulas provide an ideal habitat for a wide variety of wild life. The altitude varies from 900 mtrs to 2019 mtrs. Topography is uneven and encompasses forests, grasslands and the lake. The Periyar Lake covers an area of 26 sq.km and is 31km in length. Besides the Tiger, the sanctuary is also home to Elephants, Gaur (Indian bison), Sambar Deer, Wild Boar and a varied species of monkeys including the Nilgiri Langoor and the Lion tailed Macaque. There is also a variety of bird life of which Snake birds (Darters), Cormorants, Kingfishers and Grey Heron are commonly sighted.

Wildlife related activities that are possible in Periyar Tiger Reserve are as follows:

Mangaladevi Temple

Another tourist attraction at the Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary is the Mangaladevi Temple, the ruins of which whisper many secrets to the trees standing close beside it. The Palace of the former Maharaja of Travancore lies on a lake island, while his hunting lodge beside the lake is a major tourist draw owing to the intricate murals on the walls.

Boating

The unique thing about Periyar Tiger Reserve is the opportunity to sight animals from the safety of a boat. The boat trip takes about 2 hours and the animals normally sighted include Elephants, Gaurs, Bisons, Sambar deer and Wild boars. There is also the opportunity to see at a close range a variety of birds like Snake birds, Grey Herons, Cormorants and Kingfishers. There are trips throughout the day and the first trip starts at 7am and the last trip starts at 4pm. All the boats are operated by the Government and there is the option of hiring an exclusive boat or joining the public boat.

Nature Trek

This has been recently started by the Forest Department wherein local tribal's are trained as guides for trekking. The reporting time for trekking is at 7am in the morning & from 2pm to 2.30pm in the afternoon. There are four different routes duration varying from 2 hours to 6hours.A variety of flora and fauna can be sighted on the trek.

Bird Watching Trek

This is similar to the nature trek except that one gets the thrill of watching a variety of birds. There are over 200 species of birds sighted in Periyar Tiger Reserve.
Visit to Wildlife Museum : This is maintained by the Forest Department inside the Sanctuary. This gives information about a variety of animals, birds, reptiles and fish which are endemic to this region. It is open from 10am to 5pm.

Elephant Rides

Guests can avail elephant rides inside the sanctuary for a duration of 30 minutes. Elephants are maintained by the forest department.

Spice Plantations

Kumily is famous as a spice trading centre. The town is surrounded by plantations of Pepper, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg and also of Tea and Coffee. It is a very interesting experience to take a visit to these plantations and get firsthand experience of the cultivation, growth and processing of spices. A longer tour can also include a visit to waterfall/ mountain view point.

Other sightseeing options would be a visit to the waterfalls at Chellarkovil and Churuli. Chellarkovil is at a distance of about 20 kms from the hotel. In addition to the water fall, one also gets to see a spectacular view of the valley. But the sighting of the waterfall depends on climatic conditions. Churuli is located in the neighboring state of Tamilnadu at a distance of approximately 30 kms from the hotel. One has to cross a crossway, which gets flooded during heavy rains to reach the waterfall.