Text and Photos : K.G.Mohanlal Nair
Kerala, Gods Own Country, enjoys unique geographical features that have made it one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the world.
Periyar Tiger Reserve, popularly known as Thekkady is a unique rainforest habitat interspersed with rolling grasslands and Periyar Lake gives an exquisite ambience to Thekkady attracting thousands of tourists from all over the globe.
Kerala Forest Department provides several community based ecotourism programmes with strong focus on community welfare and forest protection immensely popular added to the ecotourism capital of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Government of Kerala constituted a public trust called “Periyar Foundation” in order to sustain the community based ecotourism and similar other initiatives in the reserve.
These programmes focus equally on visitor satisfaction, forest conservation and community welfare ; and have become integral part of the management of the Reserve. Five hundred tribal families are benefited directly ; apart from the multiplier effects it has on the society
Location
Airports : Madurai (Tamilnadu State) 140 Km. Kochi (Kerala State) 190 Kms. Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala State) 265 Kms
Rail. Theni (Tamilnadu State) 60 kms (1 ½ hrs). Kottayam 114 (Kerala State) kms (4 hrs). Madurai (Tamilnadu State) 136 kms
Road : Well connected from all major cities and tows of Kerala and Tamilnadu states.
Contact
Deputy Director (Periyar East)
Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady
Kerala, India.
Pin : 685 536,
Tel : 91-4869-222027 OR
91-4869-222027
Fax : 91-4869-223750
E.mail : dd@periyartigerreserve.org OR
mail@periyarfoundation.org
Internet : www.periyartigerreserve.org
For booking contact
Bamboo Grove Ecolodge :www.bamboogrovelodge.com
Kalypso Adventures : info@kalypsoadventures.com
The various programmes include :
Periyar Tiger Trail : An adventurous trekking and camping programme, immensely popular internationally provides livelihood for 23 ex-poachers. The programme has contributed substantially in keeping vigil in the most vulnerable parts of the Reserve
Bamboo rafting : A daylong hitchhiking programme in groups ; Nature Walk. A day trekking programme conducted by 20 selected youth from the local tribal hamlet
Jungle Petrol : A night trekking by joining the regular forest protection party as a paid volunteer
Jungle Inn : Stay in watchtowers inside the forests
Bamboo Grove : An ethnic style accommodation facility where the typical tribal huts are recreated in the middle of bamboo clumps and grasslands
Border Hiking : A day long hard trek
Tribal Heritage Museum : A museum built inside the Mannan settlement acquainting with the traditional life of tribal people
Bullock Cart Discoveries : A guided bullock cart journey in the farmlands forms livelihood for 27 ex-forest offenders.