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Between Trivandrum and Munnar is Thekkady, the home of
one of India's oldest and best-known wildlife sancturies. The former
princely state of Travancore began to develop the area as a sanctuary in
1934, using the artificial lake that had been formed by flooding in 1895
as its center. By 1950 the sanctuary had reached its present size of 780
square kilometers and was named the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The
sanctuary is in fact closer to madurai in Tamil Nadu, 145 kilometers to
the east via an extremely attractive road, and Cochin, 192 kilometers to
the west. The vast calmness of the lake and the stark, skeletal remains of
the trees that protrude from its waters give the area a primeval look.
This impression is heightened by the mists that swirl ethereally over the
water in the early morning. The wildlife remains largely undisturbed by
visitors who must observe it from special boats which glide across the
surface of the lake. although the stars of the sanctuary are the families
of wild elephants that often gather near the water's edge, other
inhabitants include bears, sambhar, bison and spotted deer, as well as
many screeching monkeys. The sanctuary was one of the first to come under
the centeral goverment's sucessful Project Tiger. The birdlife is rich and
varied and Periyar attracts dedicated bird- watching enthusiasts.
The best time to visit the sanctuary is between September and
May. |
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