Periyar Tiger Reserve - Nature preserve in Kumily - Idukki, India

The periyar tiger reserve boat ride gives you the chance to be in nature. Try to get the boat ride tickets for 7:30AM to 9 AM. The weather will be pleasant and less rush for the ride. Carry pullover or sweater with you, as it will be cooler as we go deeper in the lake. The chances of seeing wildlife is very rare. However, you get chance to get witness the beautiful scenery. Please ensure you arrive at the ticket counter at 45 minutes before the ride time. Buses will take to boat landing point which is around 4KM from ticket counter. Online booking is available which will help you to jump the queue and save lot of your time.

We travelled from our hotel to their pick up point where we found the buses. After arriving at the pick up point you need to buy the tickets for the national park and bus ride. Then they take you to the boating point from where the you can access the boats. You can buy binoculars here for viewing the animals that are hidden in the dense forest. They cost around Rs.50 and Rs 1000 deposit along with your ID card. Then the boat ride starts at their estimated time, takes you for a 60-90 minutes ride around the lake. You can find few wildlife to see their if you are lucky enough. We could only see a few deers on the entire boat ride. According to me, the ride was not worth it as the boat was very slow and most of the people where bored sitting in there as they couldn't find any wildlife to see around. Also, you can book tickets online for the Periyar tiger reserve, but you can also find offline tickets as 20% of the tickets are sold offline. You can just skip this National Park if you are in a hurry.

A well maintained reserve where you can take a walk from entrance to the boating point to enjoy the nature in the forest. Heighted trees and monkeys can be seen but there doesn't seem to have any tigers at all even though it is named after them. The boating experience is amazing with breeze of cold air, best time to visit is post monsoon season or after Diwali.

Very nice Ghat section with huge trees and floral. It's better to walk from the entrance check post to the Thekkady Boating, if you would like to feel refreshed and energized. We were there early in the morning and started walking in, instead of waiting for the Forest department bus. It was a very pleasant walk, breathing fresh aromatic air. There are a few selfie spots and art work on the way. There was a turtle shaped Cafe, which was closed, but looked very nice.

It's a whole new world of adventure. It's like living with nature. Everything is so green and beautiful. It has a water safari but you have to reach early by 9 am to book the tickets. There are a few good restaurants and museum as well. A whole day well spent.

A great place to go for a hike. To go for a hike you have to get tickets at the office of Periyar tiger Reserve. The trek starts at the boating point. From the entrance of the park you can go to the boating point either by walk (20 mins) or take a bus (5 mins). It is almost a 10 kms hike which takes you deep into the jungle. We were accompanied by a ranger with a gun and a guide. Credits to then for ensuring our safety. SPOTTING OF ANIMALS IS ONLY BY LUCK. We were not lucky to spot any wild cats. Yet we were lucky to spot few elephants. Usually the treks of south India takes you through the grass lands or Sholas. But this trek is very different. It takes you through the jungle. For sure it is a once in a life time experience.

One of the best experiences I've had visiting a national park, they have numerous activities planned, creating a balance between sustainable tourism and a fun experience. While visiting the national park one has to remember that your safety is of utmost priority for officials and also that these national parks are the last remaining undisturbed homes of these few remaining wild animals. Hence their ways have to be protected, which is why officials have in place certain rules and regulations which have to be followed at all times. Rest you are in great hands, these guys will try their best to give you the most wonderful experience of the national park, however since it's a huge national park 925 sq. Kms to be precise you may or may not spot "the tiger". Having visited 12 national parks till now, I can tell you with experience that it's not always about "the tiger" or "the elephant" or "the rhino". National parks are an abode of nature, they are the closest demonstrations of a world without urbanization, jungle life to be precise. And that is their precious offering which one can appreciate above all. I would recommend nature walks for people who have less time, border walk or full day trek for people with trekking experience and a day to spare. However my favourite was tiger trail a 1/2 night stay depending upon your choice. It's the best experience.

This national park is extremely awesome! Went for the Nature Walk. Our guide Vinod took us on an adventure which I'm very thankful for. He explained everything in detail and took good care of us. We were very lucky and saw elephants twice. The second time it was a group of 4 and one of them was a baby about 5 month old. They were blocking the footpath and Vinod organised a small boat for us to get back.