Periyar Tiger Reserve (18-Jan-2015)

If you ask a keralite whether Thekkady is one of the most beautiful places in Kerala? They will probably say there is only boating in Thekkady. A usual answer you are probably going to get.

Thekkady is the entrance to one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in our country and in fact one of the best in the world  "the Periyar Tiger Reserve". While boating you see the glimpses of reserve but what lies inside is the real beauty. This place is a must to visit place. If you don't then you are probably missing something really special the nature has to offer.

To reach Periyar Tiger Reserve you 'll need to reach Kumily first. Being a high range Kumily is slightly cooler so do have your winter gear especially if your are sensitive to cold. The nights get really cold here. Best time to visit would be from November to March.

Staying in the reserve is extremely expensive you would find it much cheaper outside. We had food from Mama's restaurant its good food there.

Consolidation of Periyar as a wildlife sanctuary was in 1950 and in 1978 it was declared as a tiger reserve.

There are plenty of programs in the reserve for you:

1. Nature walk,

2. Green walk,

3. Cloud walk,

4. Border trekking,

5. Bamboo rafting (half/full day),

6. Bamboo grove,

7. Pugmark trail,

8. Jungle inn,

9. Jungle scout,

10. Tiger trail (1 night & 2 days / 2 nights & 3 days),

11. Tribal dance.

When we reached, almost all the programs were booked except for nature walk, green walk & pugmark trail. So we opted for nature walk.
Note: Please book your program via phone in advance to get the program you want, most of time almost all the programs will be booked.

Animals and birds in the resereve:

1. Around 50+ tigers are present as of the date, 

2. A lot of elephants,
3. wild pig, 

4. Indian giant squirrel, 

5. Travancore flying squirrel, 

6. gaur, 

7. sambar, 

8. jungle cat, 

9. sloth bear, 

10. Nilgiri tahr, 

11. lion tailed macaque, 

12. Nilgiri langur, 

13. Salim Ali's fruit bat, 

14. stripe necked mangoose, 

15. Nilgiri marten, 

About 265 species of birds can be seen in the park, including migrants. 

Endemic birds include the,

16. Malabar grey hornbill, 

17. Nilgiri wood pigeon, 

18. blue-winged parakeet, 

19. Nilgiri flycatcher, 

20. crimson-backed sunbird, 

21. and white-bellied blue flycatcher. 

Other birds include the 

22. black baza, 

23. spot-bellied eagle-owl, 

24. Nilgiri thrush, 

25. little spiderhunter, 

26. rufous-bellied hawk-eagle, 

27. brahminy kite, 

28. great hornbill, 

29. Sri Lanka frogmouth, 

30. Oriental darter, 

31. and black-necked stork,

Reptiles include the

32. king cobra,
33. Malabar pit viper, and
34. striped coral snake.
35. caecilians,
36. Malabar gliding frog,
37. Asian toad,
38. fungoid frog, and
39. bicolored frog,

fishes include the

40. Periyar trout,
41. Periyar latia,
42. Periyar barb,
43. channa barb, and
44. Travancore loach.

Insects including the

45. lime butterfly,
46. Malabar tree nymph, and
47. Travancore evening brown, and
48. many kinds of moths, such as the Atlas moth.

In 2014 India is having the highest number of tigers in the world, about 2200+ tigers yeah woooo.........
Although Periyar tiger reserve is not the tiger reserve with highest population of tigers but........
Periyar Tiger Reserve is listed among the world’s top 100 Green destinations

Link below:

http://www.bignewslive.in/periyar-tiger-reserve-listed-in-worlds-top-100-green-destinations/#.VMexY2iUeSo


During January 2015 The Periyar Tiger Reserve won the NTCA/National Tiger Conservation Authority biennial award for encouragement of local participation in handling and managing the reserve.
Last year, Periyar tiger reserve has highest monetary income in india followed by Kanha and Corbett. I can definitely understand why............................

Note: Please be very careful with elephants and don't go close to them under any circumstance. They can outrun you, oh yeah they are faster than humans. It is the elephants here that you need to be more careful than the tigers.

Here are the pics from our nature walk:

Entrance to boat landing

a bonnet macaque, these guys are big trouble

 A bamboo raft which we needed to cross the lake

 While on the raft

While starting our nature walk

 An elephant's footprint few days old

 Tiger pugmark few weeks old

 Going into the bush

 spotted elephants

 A mother with her baby

 our guide Babu

 An old remains of a tiger kill, Bison horns.

Nilgiri Langur

This motorcycle tour was the best I have done till now.

Paniyeli Poru (9-Jan-2015)

Located near Perumbavoor, Paniyeli poru offers an awesome view of Periyar river flowing from bhoothathankettu dam and the rich & dense vegetation of the forest will give a view like no other. The chirping of different species of birds, the water flowing through the rocks and the amazing scenic view is definitely the beauty of nature at its best. Paniyeli poru is in the buffer zone and there are animals. Elephants are the usual visitors along with buffaloes. Elephants cross the shallow river and will come to our side so we have to be a little careful but don't worry the forest guards will take care of us, they are always on the look out. This is a must see place in Kerala.