Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (also Periyar Tiger Reserve) in Thekkady, Kerala, is one of South India's most visited and best-managed wildlife sanctuaries. The centerpiece is the Periyar Lake — a reservoir formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam — around which the sanctuary's 925 sq km of protected forest is organized. The boat safari on Periyar Lake is the signature experience: motor boats cruise the lake while elephants, gaur, and deer come to the water's edge to drink and bathe. The sanctuary also operates innovative eco-tourism programmes including bamboo rafting, border hiking, and tribal heritage walks, many of which are managed by reformed poachers and local communities — a conservation success story. The surrounding landscape is spice country, with cardamom, pepper, and tea plantations, adding cultural depth to the wildlife experience.