Some of the exciting wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala, India
Kerala is an exciting state located in South India, receiving travelers from all regions of India and the world. Forest occupies almost thirty percent of Kerala’s landscape. The state has long coastlines and fantastic backwaters that attract visitors from all over the world. The Western Ghats cover 72.08% of the total geographical area of Kerala.
The vibrancy of the Western Ghats, Kerala spice plantations and backwaters add to the scenic beauty of Kerala. The total forest area encompasses five national parks, as well as thirteen wildlife parks. All these aspects help the development of tourism in Kerala and make Kerala tour packages rank high among Indian Tour.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
The other name of the Periyar wildlife park is Thekkady wildlife sanctuary. The geographical area of this wildlife sanctuary is in Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts. The nearest railway station to reach the place is Kottayam. The sanctuary encompasses a beautiful lake, so many varieties of flowering plants, peculiar varieties of birds, toxic reptiles, endangered animal species like lion-tailed macaque, deer, etc. Giant King Cobra and Great Hornbill are other attractions in this wildlife sanctuary. Visitors can enjoy boat cruises on the lake and take pictures of birds and also go on elephant rides.
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
Idukki Wildlife Park is located in the middle of the Periyar and Cheruthoni rivers. The central attraction is the Idukki Arch Dam itself. The dam is 168 meters high. From the dam, travelers can see lush green forests, exquisite water reservoirs, and mountains. Tigers, bison, herds of elephants, kingfishers, and Myna are common sights in the sanctuary. The place is ideal for trekking, and boat rides. The entire forest is under the premises of tropical evergreen forests.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
This sanctuary is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere and Bandipur National Park. Tourism is a fast emerging sector in Wayanad. The government is planning many ecotourism projects for the development of tourism here. The Wayanad forest area is thick and dense. The biosphere is home to elephants, black panthers, tigers, peacocks, bison, wild leopards, and deer. This forest area consists of a good density of King Cobra. The Sultan Bathery Spice Plantation, which lies under the reserve, is peculiar in its kind. It is one of the must-visit destinations in India. Road transport is the only way to reach the sanctuary.
Thattekkad Wildlife Sanctuary
The popular name of Thattekkad wildlife sanctuary is Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. There are some reserve areas in the sanctuary that preserve trees such as rosewood and teak. It is one of the best bird sanctuaries in India. Visitors can view hornbills in their habitat here. The best time to visit this sanctuary is from May to July. In this period many migratory birds visit this sanctuary. Hawk, Sunbird and Blue-winged Parakeet are common in this sanctuary. Peculiar Types of Refuge and Crimson-throated Barbet are other attractions at the sanctuary. It has more than five hundred varieties of birds. There are convenient means of transportation available to reach the sanctuary.
These are some of the wildlife sanctuaries worth visiting in Kerala.