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Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Location
: Kerala
Also Known as : Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary
Main Species of animals found : Elephants, Tigers, Spotted Deer
Best Season : October to June
One
of the well known and oldest wildlife sanctuaries in the south, Periyar sanctuary
attracts a large number of nature lovers every year. Periyar National Park and
Tiger Reserve was established in the verdant stretches of Kerala in 1895 and
declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. Also called the Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary,
this place is ideal for watching the animals in their natural habitat. The forest
slopes into the manmade lake at the bottom of the hill. This lake serves as
the waterhole for the animals and they come here to drink or take a dip. Elephants,
Gaur, Sambar and even tigers can be spotted here.
There are boat services which takes
the visitor around the lake. The best season to visit the park is between October
and June. The national park and the tiger reserve is rated as one of the best
wildlife sanctuaries in India for wildlife photography, bird watching, elephant
herds and tiger watching. Spread over 777 Sq.Kms of the Cardamom Hills of Western
Ghats, the Periyar sanctuary is located 137 km from Madurai. Although an excursion
on the splendid artificial lake is the standard way to experience the sanctuary,
you can also walk around with the local guide in a small group. Wild Elephant
herds come to the lake to frolic in the water.
Four primate species found
at Periyar, which act as the centre of attraction, are the rare lion-tailed macaque,
the Nilgiri Langur, Common Langur and Bonnet Macaque. Periyar is also the only
habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr, which is not seen easily. There are over 260 species
of birds finding shelter, including Nilgiri Wood Pigeons, blue-winged Parakeets;
White bellied Tree Pies, laughing Thrushes and Fly Catchers. Other attractions
of the sanctuary are the Sambar, Bison, Spotted Deer, Tigers, Leopards, Malabar
Flying Squirrels, Stripe necked Mongooses, etc.
How
to Reach Periyar National Park By Air : The nearest airports
from Periyar are Kochi (Cochin) at 200-kms or Madurai in Tamil Nadu at 140-kms
from Periyar.
By Rail : The nearest railhead from Periyar is at Kottayam,
which lies at a distance of 114-kms.
By Road : The nearest town from
Periyar is Kumily, well connected with Kottayam, Ernakulam and Madurai in Tamil
Nadu by regular and frequent buses.
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Viralimalai
Sanctuary
Location : 30-km From Tiruchirapalli,
Tamil Nadu
Best Place : To Watch Peacocks
An
Abode Of The Indian National Bird
Viralimalai
is famous for its Murugan temple and the Peacock sanctuary. The small and nondescript
kind of town, Viralimalai is situated at a distance of 30-kms from Tiruchirapalli
and 40-kms from Pudukottai. The highlight of the town is that it is bestowed
with a large number of wild peacocks. All varieties of peacock roam majestically
around the Murugan temple. The area is a notified sanctuary and is one of the
best places to watch peacocks.
There are at least six species of peacock pheasants
distributed throughout South East Asia. The Palauan Peacock Pheasant or "Tandikan"
(Polyplectron Emphanum) finds protection at Viralimalai sanctuary and is by far
the most spectacularly coloured of these beautiful birds.
How
to Get There Air : The nearest airport is at Tiruchirapalli
(30-km).
Rail : Tiruchirapalli junction is a main junction on the southern
railway. It connects Chennai, Chidambaram, Madurai, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi,
Kollam, Rameswaram, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kochi, Kanyakumari and Mangalore. Pudukkottai
is also well connected by rail with the important places within and beyond the
state.
Road : There are regular buses from Tiruchirapalli, Pudukkottai
and the neighbouring towns to Viralimalai.
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