Things to Do in Periyar

1. Take a Jeep Safari: One of the things to do in Periyar is to go on a thrilling jeep safari. If you are a nature and animal lover, you will love this adrenalin rush activity where you will be traveling through dense forest on a jeep for a full day from 6 am in the morning to 5 pm in the evening, and pass cascading waterfalls, lush green vegetation, and aromatic spice plantations. You will feel excited to take a look at the natural habitat of the wildlife and maybe lucky to spot some of the animals or birds and even tigers.

Timings: 6.00 am to 5:00 pm.

2. Thekkady Lake Cruise:One of the popular activities in Periyar is to go for an enjoyable lake cruise. Periyar is one of the most famous lakes in Kerala and is located inside the Periyar National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary. You can embark on a one and a half-hour longboat cruise and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the lake as you cruise through the waters of the Periyar Lake surrounded by the wildlife sanctuary. Apart from enjoying the ambience, you may be lucky to spot animals such as wild elephants, bison, sambhar, gaur and lots of exotic birds. The lake is especially known for its waterbirds which you can observe closely during your cruise.

Timings: 7.30 am to 9:00 am; 9.30 am to 11:00 am; 11.15 am to 12.45 pm; 1.45 pm to 3.15 pm; 3.30 pm to 5:00 pm

3. Elephant Ride: Those looking for some exciting things to do in Periyar will surely want to go for an Elephant ride which is available inside the premises of the national park. Exploring the lush greenery with tea and spice plantations on the back of this majestic animal can be an experience for life. Select the Elephant safari package of your choice from the 'Elephant Junction' and start your adventurous journey. Breathe in the tantalizing aroma of the spices of the plantation as you get closer to nature in this unique way.

Timings: 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM

4. Spice Plantation Tour: Kerala is well known for its wealth of spices and one of the must things to do in Periyar is to take a trip to the spice plantations and get lost in the intoxicating flavors and aroma of spices. You can go on a spice tour in the western ghat, close to Periyar and learn about the famous spices of the state. Learn how spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, pepper, cloves, nutmeg, turmeric, ginger etc. are cultivated and pay a visit to the spice market to purchase some for home. During your Spice Plantation tour, you can also explore the coffee and tea plantations as well.

Timings: 08:45 am - 05:30 pm

5. Stroll Near Periyar Lake: The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala spreads around the Periyar Lake and to enjoy the beauty of the lake, you can embark on a 2 and a half-hour walk. During your walk, you will be able to enjoy taking a look at the exotic birds, butterflies and other wildlife of the national park. You can choose different natural trails of 4 to 5 km in length and pass through moist deciduous forests and marshy grasslands. Feel one with nature as you walk along the trail along with a tribal guide.

Timings: 6:30 am to 5:00 pm

6. Bamboo Rafting: Another of the enjoyable activities in Periyar is to embark on a relaxing bamboo rafting adventure. Feel thrilled as you go on a bamboo rafting tour in a group of 10 people with an armed guard and 4 guides. Go rafting for 2-3 hours through the lush green tracks of the dense forests. In this rafting experience, you just need to float in the water on the raft and feel the cool water splashing on your face as your raft proceeds.

Timings: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

7. Camping: Those who want to experience the wildlife at night will want to go on a camping expedition in the middle of Periyar Tiger Reserve. The campsite is located at the river viewpoint on the banks of the Periyar river and you will be able to enjoy the enthralling surroundings of the Periyar jungle during this experience. Adding to the flavor will be the traditional tribal food that members of the Urali tribe will prepare for you. The camping experience will be made rich by trekking trips, film shows and more for you to enjoy your jungle stay to the fullest.

Timings: 3:30 pm on the first day to 2:00 pm next day

8. Experience Periyar Tiger Trail: One of the must things to do in Periyar is to join the unique “Follow the Tiger” programme. You can embark on this three hour guided tour of 20 to 35 km and have fun following the trails of elephants, Nilgiri Langurs, and tigers. During your Tiger Trail, listen to former poachers, now your guides, narrate exciting and adrenalin rush adventure stories from their experiences.

Timings: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Located in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta in Kerala is Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, the largest wildlife sanctuary of the state, spread over approximately 777 sq km. The national park is well known for its varied flora and fauna and also for being an elephant and a tiger reserve. While visiting this sanctuary, you will be able to spot 35 species of mammals and 265 species of birds along with grass varieties, flowering plants, and orchids.

The best time to visit Periyar is between the months of September to April. However, unlike most national parks, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve remain open during the monsoon season as well so you can visit the park in other seasons as well.

1. By Air: Periyar is located at a distance of 140 km from Madurai airport, the nearest airport to the national park. It is also 190 km from Cochin International Airport in Kochi. You can reach Madurai or Kochi and travel by road to reach Periyar National Park.

2. By Train: The nearest railway station to Periyar is Kottayam, located at a distance of 110 Km. You can hire private cars and taxis or take buses to reach the national park.

3. By Road: Periyar is well connected with several major cities of Kerala such as Munnar, Trivandrum, Kochi and Kottayam by road. You can travel by buses run by Kerala tourism or avail private taxis as well.