Periyar National Park

Periyar National Park

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Welcome to Periyar National Park located within the ranges of Western Ghats in the south Indian state of Kerala. The park which is the counted among the oldest wildlife sanctuaries in the India, is an ideal haven for the endangered Asiatic wild elephants. Spread to the total area of 778 km sq, and is located 1200 to 1800 m above sea level. It is both a National park and a protected Tiger Reserve. The main attraction of the park, is a Periyar Lake that was formed as a result of the building of a dam in 1895. It serves as permanent source of water for the local wildlife. The park offers hordes of adventure opportunities to the wildlife enthusiasts. The best time to plan out the trip to the Periyar National Park lies between the month of October to March.

The Flora of Periyar National Park comprises of three types of forests – Tropical Evergreen Forests, Semi Evergreen Forests, and Moist Deciduous Forest. It posses quite rich and wide variety of vegetation. At about 1,963 species of blossoming plants belonging to 823 genera and 159 families have been pointed and recognized by the experts of the Kerala Forest Research Institute and Kerala Forest Department for Periyar National Park.

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Periyar is the ideal habitat of the Indian elephants. The other animals to be seen in the Periyar sanctuary Kerala are Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Dole or Indian Wild Dog and very rarely, a Tiger. There are, now, an estimated 40 tigers in the Periyar national Park. Four species of primates are found at Periyar – the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, Common Langur and Bonnet Macaque.

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Enjoy the exciting boat cruise on Periyar lake and observe the exotic scenic beauty of the surrounding jungle. The amazing sight of herds of elephants, playing with each other, roaming in groups and bathing on the lake side can truly be an rewarding experience for you. Apart from the elephants other animals oftenly come to the lake for water. Therefore boat cruise can be great adventure at look for the wilds. The lake cruise are particularly enamoring at sunset.

There’s no better way to see the forest wildlife than by taking an elephant safari. Turn up at at the main gate and meet numerous elephant riders, who will take you on a enthralling ride into the depth of the forest. Be sure to turn up early or book for the elephant ride in advance. Elephant safari takes you through inscrutable lush forests, rugged trials and ruins of old temple that offers a lingering fun to the adventure enthusiasts. It is quite an interesting experience that gives you the opportunity to watch the wilds in their natural habitats.

Tour to Periyar National Park also includes trekking adventure. But if you visit the Periyar National Park during the monsoons, keep in mind that the leeches also come with th rain so make sure you wear the leech proof shocks, available within the park. On the trekking tour make a visit to the ruined Mangala Devi temple – an ages old beautiful old stone temple amidst the Thekkady forest. A morning trek can be rewarding if you are interested in ‘game watching’.

If you want to feel the real essence of the park, than go for the birding tour. Get up early in the morning, turn up to the lake side area and experience the exciting bird life. Listen to the exquisite bird songs, lake in spectacular sightings of large flocks of water birds and spot the exclusive species of birds. Make sure you carry a good pair of binoculars along with yourself.

Apart from the wildlife safaris, book one full day for the excursion trip to the nearby Cardamom hills, where the spices are grown, are also an option for detour. Than you can also make a visit to Kumily, the famous tourists attraction that is worth visiting.

Savor the untrammeled pleasure of a natural sightseeing and photo safari tour in the stimulating environs of the Periyar National Park. If you want cherish the memories of this exclusive Park throughout the life, than capture all the wonderful moments in you camera. Where you will get the chance to photograph wild Elephants at close quarters.

There are numerous accommodation facilities at Periyar National Park, including the luxurious and budget category. The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation runs three luxurious hotels within the park. These are the Lake Palace which costs around 10,000 rupees per night for a double room, Aranya Nivas starting from 4,000 rupees () per night, and the cheaper Periyar House, which starts from around 2,000 rupees () per night. Discounts are available for stays during the monsoon season.

Travelling is My Forte and penning them down is my hobby. You could visit- www.indian-holidays.net for more information.

Source: ArticlesBase.com

National Park Experiences You Can’t Have

National Park Experiences You Can’t Have

As a regular national park junkie, my family and I have fantastic memories of experiences that are no longer possible.  I’m not talking about watching the scheduled bear feedings that were staged at many of our great national parks in the 1930s; I’m talking about experiences in the last 10 – 20 years that are no longer possible.

 In the early 1990s, we traveled to Sequoia National Park (NP) and Kings Canyon NP for the first time.  My wife booked one of the most charming and spacious cabins we had ever experienced on a vacation.  Sequoia NP advertised it as “sleeping beneath the Giant Sequoias”.  It was a beautiful setting and each morning I rose to the smell of Ponderosa Pine, and walked out into the crisp morning air to look straight up at trees well over 2000 years old branching out high above our cabin.  It was only while at the park that an employee told us we were one of the lucky last ones.  I asked what made us so lucky.  We were told of a plan to relocate the cabins after that very season due to the fear and threat of one of these giant specimens failing on an inhabited cabin.  While these trees are healthy, they have a root system that often does not stretch more than six feet beneath the surface of the ground.  There have been numerous occurrences of a healthy tree, without any notice, falling under the weight of a heavy winter snow.  

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Another year, we vacationed at Zion NP and drove our rental vehicle all throughout the park.  A couple of years later, due to continually growing attendance necessitating changes to preserve the expected national park experience and to prevent soil and vegetation damage and erosion, the main section of the park was closed to private vehicle traffic.  Today, you must park in a designated lot and take a shuttle bus into the main interior of the park unless you have proof that you are staying at the park lodge.  Again, a good and necessary move, but one that left us with a great memory from a gone era. 

In 1995, I, along with my wife, son, brother-in-law and his family, traveled to Yosemite NP and stayed in very new and very nice cabins in the heart of the valley adjacent to the Merced River.  I got up first each morning and walked quietly out the door at the urging of the sound of rapidly moving water I could hear from my bed.  As I followed the sound and looked up, I rejoiced in the sight of the 2,425 foot Yosemite Falls cascading down from high above the valley.  The great flood of 1997 destroyed these cabins, and the decision was made by the ever growing preservation minded park authorities to not rebuild these cabins. 

Don’t get me wrong; I support all of these changes.  The national park authorities have the safety of visitors and the preservation of these natural wonders for future generations as their prime objectives.  The decisions to make all of these changes were the absolute right decisions.  However, that does not mean that I do not feel very fortunate and lucky to have these memories that no one else can now acquire.  It’s kind of like knowing someone who saw The Beatles or Elvis in concert.  You either saw them or you never will.  The opportunity has passed and is no longer there. 

Therefore, what are you waiting for?  If you are continually saying you would like to see the great national parks some day, then get out and make it happen.  Who knows what great experiences your family will partake in before growing visitation, Mother Nature, or safety concerns make them a thing of the past.

 

I am a 50 year old former Pharmaceutical sales Representative, Sales Manager, and Director. I have a B.S. in Business from Indiana University and am a Texas licensed CPA. I have lived most of my life in Indiana and Texas.

However, my life took and unexpected turn in 2006 with the diagnosis of incurable Colon Cancer. Having had the fortune of visiting what many would consider every major National Park in the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii, plus British Columbia and Alberta, I have begun to write about my vast experiences. On August 30th, 2009, my first book, “The Concise Visitors Guide to Yosemite” was published. It is available at amazon.com.

Source: ArticlesBase.com