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Introduction 
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the largest and most visited
wildlife reserves in India. It occupies 777 square kilometres of the Cardamom
hills regions of the Western Ghats. The majority of its visitors come in the
hope of seeing tigers and leopards. However, there are plenty of other animals :
elephant, sambar, Malabar giant suirrel, gaur, stripe-necked mongoose, wild boar
and over 260 species of birds including Nilgiri wood pigeon, purple-headed
parakeet, tree pie and flycatchers. Located close to the Kerala - Tamil
Nadu border, the park makes a convenient place to break the long journey across
the Ghats between Madurai and the coast. It's also a good base for day-trips
into the Cardamom hills, with a couple of tea factories, spice plantations, the
trailhead for the Sabarimala pilgrimage and viewpoints and forest waterfalls
within striking distance. History
Just over 100 km east of Kottayam, and centered on a vast artificial lake
created by the British in 1895 to supply water to the drier parts of
neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Periyar lies at altitudes of 900m to 1800m and is
correspondingly cool: temperature range from 15°C to 30°C. The royal family of
Travancore , anxious to preserve favourite hunting grounds from the
enchroachment of tea plantations, declared it to be a Forest Reserve and built
the Edapalayam Lake Palace to accommodate their guests in 1899. It expanded as a
wildlife reserve in 1933, and once again when it became part of project Tiger in
1979.
Festival
... Best Season
The Best time to Visit is from December until April, when the dry weather
draws animals from the forest to drink at the lakeside.
Travel
Links of Periyar
News
Papers Links of Periyar
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