When: All Year Round, but the best season to visit is from September to May. For those interested in Wildlife, November to May is ideal, while birders are welcome from October to April.  The climate is pleasant throughout the year.

Length: Any, but a 3 day trip is ideal.

Number of guests: There are 7 cottages, each sleeping up to two persons. In addition there are 8 tents.

Fee:

• Eco Lodge - US $ 25 per person (Full board)
• Tents  - US $ 20 per person (Full board)

Accommodation: 7 Tribal-style cottages with double beds, mosquito nets, en-suite toilets, hot water, electric supply 230 Volts, 50 hz. Laundry services are also available

Food: Ethnic vegetarian food

Periyar Tiger Reserve:
Earlier known as Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary, this reserve is a fine example of good management of forests. The sanctuary, which was a game reserve, merged with the Forest Department in 1966. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978 under the Project Tiger scheme. In 1982 the core area of the reserve (350 sq. km.) was notified as National Park. The entire Park covers hills and verdant forests extending over an area of 777 sq. km . It will be no exaggeration to say that this Park is one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in India. Here, in the crisp, cool air of the Western Ghats you will experience wilderness and abundant wildlife first hand. The uniqueness of this sanctuary is the Periyar lake, an artificial lake, which was created by damming the Periyar river a century ago.The open grasslands are home to a magnificent variety of animals - the elephant, the bison, Gaur, Sambar deer, Barking deer, Mouse deer, Nilgiri langur, Bonnet macaque, Lion-tailed macaque leopards, Jungle cats, Wild dogs and most importantly the tiger. An estimated 40 tigers inhabit the Reserve.

Getting Here: Distances to Periyar  (By Road)

• Kochi International Airport  - 220 kms
• Trivandrum Airport - 290 kms
• Madurai  - 120 kms
• Munnar - 105 Kms
• Kottayam Railway Station - 110 kms

ACTIVITIES

Guided  Trekking: Trained tracker cum guides are available at the boat landing as well as near the check post to take visitors along the different nature trails in the reserve. Visitor can avail a one night or a two night camping and trekking facility inside the forest. This is the best way to experience the rain forests at Periyar. The experienced trackers & guides will take you on an unforgettable trail of the majestic tigers. 

Wildlife Safaris & Birding: Boats  of different capacities are maintained by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) and the Kerala Forest Department. Boats can be hired for a 2 hour cruise, the easy option for sighting wildlife. For those who love the forest, there is a watch tower and a forest rest house, one each at Edappalayam and Manakkavala for overnight stay inside forests are available with advance booking.

Bamboo Rafting: A new innovative idea of rafting on a tribal raft and trekking to watch wildlife. This is a full day programme.

Elephant ride: Children and adults can go for a short elephant ride near the Turtle nature park after contacting the wildlife information centre near boat landing.

Wildlife & Tribal Interpretation centres: Visitors arriving Periyar Tiger Reserve can drop by at the Gandhi park near Kumily town. Besides screening wildlife films, essential information on the reserve is provided here. Tribal Village Visits are organized daily by the Eco-Development committees to give an insight into the life of the tribals.

Plantation Tours around the park: In Kumily and neighbourhood areas, there are a number of small and large plantations of tea, coffee and spices like cardamom, pepper, vanilla etc. Many plantations tour operators are available in Kumily.