Periyar National Park

Periyar National Park is also a Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its elephant reserve and tiger reserve falls under the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta in Kerela is a protected area. It almost covers the area of 925 square kilometers, in which three fifty square kilometer, he part of core zone was declared in 1982 as Periyar National Park.

Periyar National Park

 

This park is also known as Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, the other name of the park is "Thekkady". This national park is set along the border of Tamil Nadu, nested high on Cardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills which is along Southern Western Ghats. From Kumiley this park is almost 4 km, from Kottyam it is almost 100 km east , 110km west of Madurai and almost from Kochi it is almost 120 km southeast.

Tigers in Periyar

 

 

Climate

The temperature of this place varies almost depending on the altitude. During the month of December, it is said that temperature is around 15 degree Celsius and in the month of May to June it is almost 31 degree Celsius. Usually the annual perspiration varies from 2000 to 3000mm, where most perspiration occurs  during South West monsoon during the month of June to September.

 

Flora

It is said that almost 75% of the protected area are almost covered by the unaffected evergreen or semi green rainforests. The species of typical tall tropical trees which varies from 40m to 50 m in height are found, they are namely, Vateria Indica, Hopea Pariveflora, Canarium Strictum, Bischofia Javanica.

The forest consists of 7% of Eucalyptus plantation, 13% of damp leaves forests, 1.5%of grassland and the rest 3.5% is the Periyar artificial lakes, Periyar river and Pamba rivers.

The overall survey says that almost 2000 kinds of flowering plants, 170 different species of ferns, three kind of seed plants are found. Among the flowering plants one will get 169 families of sweet grasses, and many other frequent flowers along with 145 types of orchids are found in this reserve.

For medicinal purpose almost 350 occuring plants are used.

For the tourists there is a lovely picnic spot with river flowing through.  

 

Fauna

Mammals

Elephant is the main attraction in this national park, it is said that almost 62 different kinds of mammals are found including the one which are threatening too.It is estimated that almost 53 tigers are found in this reserve. Tourists come here for Indian elephants, for their act of playfulness in the Periyar Lake, it is said that almost 900 1000 individuals of elephants are found. Apart from this,other mammals found here are sambar, gaur, mouse deers, barking deers, Dholes, loepards, foxes, sometimes, Nilgiri Tahr are also visible.

Elephants in Periyar

 

It is also said that almost four types of primates are found which includes, lion tail macaque, Nilgiri langur, Bonnet Macaque, the common langur.

 

Birds

It is said that almost 320 different kins of birds are spotted in Periyar, which includes Kingfishers, the great Malabar Hornbill, cormorants, racket tailed drongos and darters.

 

Reptiles

This national park is the home to 45 different kinds of reptiles, among them are two turtles, 30 snakes and 13 lizards species. Tourists here also get to see the Monitor lizard, which is mostly spotted on the rock of lake share basking in the sun, even trekkers in the Periyar spots King Cobra and python sometimes.

 

Amphibians

It is recorded that almost 27 species of amphibians are spotted here, among which 10 of them are endemic to western ghats such as frogs and caecilians 

Fish

In the water of the  protected area of this national park38 different types of fishes are found, aming them some are endemic to Western Ghats. Like Salmons and Trout are found here.

Insects

In this protected area, almost 160 different kinds of insects including variety of butterflies are found here. Some dangerous insects too are found, which make cause some serious health problems to Humans.

Apart from the flora and fauna in the Periyar National Park, one will find the Temple of Sabarimala in the buffer zone of Periyar, which receives almost 4 million of tourists everyday.