KERALA WILDLIFE Location : Nilgiris, Western Ghats Popular For : Elephants, Tigers, Nilgiri Tahr Major Reserves : Periyar, Idukki, Silent Valley Way To Explore : Elephant Safari, Jeeps, Boat Cruise

Sprawling Grasslands, Dense Forests and Incredible Wild Life ....

Elephants at Periyar - Kerala

Periyar Tiger Reserve Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Idukki National Park Wayanad Wildlife Reserve

Silent Valley Wildlife Safaris

"To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour."


- William Blake (1757-1827)

Yes, indeed. This is how Kerala jungles are better known as. For tourists who love nature, a few days of tranquility is unforgettable in what could be called a Garden of Eden. Plan a holiday vacation to Kerala, where the mist plays hide and seek with the green mountains, the melody is tuned to the whistle of the crickets and the chirp of wild birds. Dark green patches with springs trickling down rocky fractures, falling headlong into bottomless gulfs with emarald waters and rivulets gushing past rare flora and fauna, is indeed an idyllic setting to unleash yourself and blend with the beauty of the wild. Welcome to the land of Rudyard Kipling's Baloo, Bagheera and Mowgli. A land where small tribal boys get delayed in the evening because of 'Puli manam' (tiger smell) on the way. It is here in Kerala that, the forest treetops suddenly burst with the spasmodic alarm calls of a handsome Malabar giant squirrel or broken bamboo shoots together with bare-barked trees - garnished with red mud - offer signs of mood swings of the regal behemoths dwelling in the interiors.

Go Wild In The Greens

Plan to exhaust some days of your leisurely holiday vacation amidst the sylvan settings of the Western Ghats. The aroma of the first monsoon together with the fragrance of many wild florals, actually creates a stir in the serene ambiance of the woods. Spend a night at the Periyar Wildlife Reserve, sitting beside the picturesque lake in the heart of the jungle and enjoying a open bonfire, while a solitary stillness indolently envelopes the fire-lit twilight of the hills. Though famous as a tiger reserve, the pultritudinous elephants attracts more visitors than the jungle king. Visitors can enjoy sighting animals from the comfort of boats on the lake or can undertake treks through the deep bushes of the park. Drive amid the undulating hills and grassy knolls of the Eravikulam National Park, located at 15 km north of the hill station of Munnar. Embraced by hills that resemble to the hairy top of an elephant's head, this wildlife reserve is a home to many Nilgiri Tahr, tigers, leopards, jungle cats, wild boar, sloth bear, Nilgiri Langur, squirrels and vicious reptiles. If on a vacation tour to Kerala, don't forget to visit the Silent Valley National Park, said to be a scientist's dream and a researcher's paradise, because of new species of plant and birds that are discovered every year. As the name suggests, the Silent Valley is truly a silent reminder of the evergreen rain forests, that once flourished in this area.

Sambhar Deer - Kerala

Time To Pack Your Bags

The best way to explore the well preserved national reserves is by taking an elephant safari through the wilds. One can also go for a boat cruise on the lake at the Periyar Wildlife Park. There are boat services, which will take you around the lake, while you keep an eye open for not-to-be-missed sightings of the wild.

A boat cruise from Boothathanketu to Thattekad is an unforgettable experience through the evergreeen forests nesting migratory ans indigenous birds. Travellers can also indulge in trekking and elephant rides in other sanctuaries. One should not miss the enthralling tiger trails in tiger reserves. The tour is conducted by trained guards of the jungle and usually lasts for the whole night. The programme also includes 'dusk to dawn' bamboo rafting amidst soome of the finest passageways of the forests. Stuff your bags with one or two warm clothes because it can be chill at night. Get a well brimmed hat, a few bottles of water and a bottle of sunscreen lotion to shield the scorching sun of the afternoon.