activities
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Nature Walk and Green Walk
An interpretive sandal wood protection and trekking program that entails a 4/5km / 3hr walk that offers exciting opportunities to spot and watch birds, butterflies and wildlife spread over a range of habitats. These treks pass through forested trails inside the park. Groups consisting a maximum of 5 people are allowed on each trek accompanied by a trained tribal guide.
Cloud Walk
This trek offers participants panoramic vistas composed of grasslands, evergreen, deciduous and riverine forests interspersed by expanses of land irrigated by the Periyar River, the Cumbam Valley, the heights of Mangaladevi, Kumarikulam, the escarpments of the Periyar fort and the Palani hills stretching into the horizon. The trek will provide opportunities to sight species of habitat specialist birds like the Nilgiri Pipit, Broad Tailed Grass Bird, the Tree Nymph and vividly coloured butterflies. Participants may also opt to experience the cultural heritage of the Mannan Tribe in the form of artefacts on display at the Tribal Heritage Museum.
Jungle Patrol
A night trek through the periphery of the eco development zone in the Tiger Reserve accompanied by armed guides, ideal for younger visitors fit and disciplined enough to trek through the silence of the night.
Border Hiking
A day-long hike along the edge of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, passing through undulating terrain and altitudes ranging from 900 m to 1300 m. Participants will view lofty escarpments, watersheds and vast stretches of the Cumbam Valley below. Gaur, sloth bear and elephants are often sighted besides birds and butterflies. Groups comprising of a maximum of 10 participants in two batches accompanied by guides and armed guards go on this hike, embarking early in the morning.
Bamboo Rafting
An experience that begins at dawn and ends at dusk, comprises of a hike and the rafting down the Periyar River, through some of the richest forest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve, a mosaic of habitats and forest rich in bird life and arboreal animals like Giant Squirrel, Nilgirilangur, herds of elephants and gaurs. The entire experience lasts about 3 hours in duration.
Periyar Tiger Trail
This experience consists of an adventurous camping and trekking program of one-night – two-days and two-nights – three-days duration, covering a distance of 20/35km across diverse terrains. Following the Tiger Trail, participants on the trek are guided by tribal guides who know the forest and the ways of its denizens intimately. These guides are also protectors of the forest and form part of the protection force of the tiger reserve. Typically a group on this trek will comprise of a maximum of 5 visitors, 5 guides and a forest ranger.
Bullock Cart Discoveries
A trans – boundary initiative of the Periyar Tiger Reserve and a distinctly Indian rural experience that transports guests through farms, vine orchards, a jasmine garden, encountering Tamil temple. The journey then wends its way past coconut groves, along a meandering river side trail to a village named Gudalur.
Organic Village Visit
An experience for guests curated by villagers living on the periphery of the Periyar reserve that involves a visit to organic farms of the Forest Fringe Farmers Eco development Committees.
Other activities
Camping overnight in tents inside the wild life sanctuary, safaris on Elephants, trekking in the surrounding mountains, a walk through a spice plantation.