Periyar Tiger Reserve covers 925 sq km of the Cardamom Hills in Kerala, on the Western Ghats. At its heart is Periyar Lake, created in 1895 when the Mullaperiyar Dam was built on the Periyar river. The lake is now the main way to see wildlife: herds of elephants, gaur and sambar come to its edge, especially in the dry season.
The reserve is a tiger reserve and an elephant reserve and holds about 35 tigers (2017). Its forests are rich in endemic life, including the lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr and Malabar grey hornbill, plus about 266 bird species and nearly 2,000 kinds of flowering plants. It was visited by 754,306 people in 2016, making it one of the busiest parks in India.
Taller bars mean better wildlife viewing. Select a month to read what it is like.
The dots show how likely you are to see each animal on a typical safari.
The largest land animal in Asia, living in herds led by an older female.
Herds come to the lake edge, most visibly in the dry months.
India's national animal and the reason most visitors come to a safari.
About 35 tigers in 2017, but they are rarely seen from the lake.
A black monkey with a silver mane, found only in the rainforests of the Western Ghats.
Found in the rainforest canopy.
The largest wild cattle in the world, with a muscular shoulder hump.
A small, grey hornbill endemic to the Western Ghats.
An endemic of the Western Ghats.
A sure-footed mountain goat of the high grasslands of the Western Ghats.
Needs a hike to the high grasslands.
The largest deer in India, whose alarm call warns the forest of a predator.
Distances and travel times are approximate. Closure dates and permit rules change, so confirm them with the forest department before you book.
Very unlikely. Elephants, gaur and sambar are far more common, especially from the boat.
September to March for greenery and birds, and March to May for animals at the lake.
Through the single entry at Thekkady, about 4 km from Kumily.
The dam was built, forming Periyar Lake.
The Periyar Lake Reserve was formed.
A game sanctuary was created.
The area was consolidated as a wildlife sanctuary.
Declared a tiger reserve.
The core area was notified as a national park.
The reserve was brought under Project Elephant.
The lake formed by the 1895 Mullaperiyar Dam became the focus of the sanctuary, and in 1934 a game warden named S.C.H. Robinson helped set up what is now the reserve.
Tell us your dates and group size. We will arrange the safari permits, stay and transfers.