Lake cruise
On Periyar Lake.
Rainer Halama — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rainer Halama — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rainer Halama — CC BY-SA 4.0 · N M Kowlagi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rainer Halama — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rainer Halama — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rainer Halama — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rainer Halama — CC BY-SA 4.0
A celebrated elephant and tiger reserve in the Cardamom Hills of the southern Western Ghats, covering 925 square kilometres; its core was declared a national park in 1982, and it is one of India's finest wildlife areas. At its heart is the large man-made Periyar Lake, with dead tree trunks rising from the water, and the best-known experience is the boat cruise on the lake, when herds of wild elephants, deer, gaur and many birds appear along the shore. The reserve also offers nature walks with local guides and bamboo rafting, and the town of Thekkady is surrounded by famous spice plantations of cardamom, pepper and cinnamon that you can tour and buy from. Foreign visitors pay about ₹500 to enter and about ₹255 for the boat cruise, per visitor guides. Boat tickets are limited, so come early for the first morning trip, best for seeing animals; elephant rides aren't recommended.
On Periyar Lake.
Along the shore.
Around Thekkady.
Thekkady, Cardamom Hills, Kerala
The first morning trip, best for wildlife; tickets are limited, so come early. The cruise is about ₹255, per visitor guides.