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The Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (PNP) is a protected area located in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta in Kerala. It is a well known elephant & tiger reserve. The protected area is spread within 925 sq km of which 350.54 sq km of the main zone was declared as the Periyar National Park in 1982.
The park is a collection of rare, endemic and endangered flora & fauna and forms the major water basin of two rivers Periyar and the Pamba. It is located high in the Cardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills of the south Western Ghats.
The first step to protect wildlife & nature in Kerala was taken in 1934 by Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma of Travancore. He declared the forests around Periyar Lake as a private reserve to stop tea plantations from spreading into the area.
It was first called Nellikkampatty Reserve. After the independence of India, the area was officially made a wildlife sanctuary in 1950. Later in 1978 it became part of Project Tiger(a national program to protect tigers) and was renamed as Periyar Tiger Reserve.
A total of 1965 species groups of flowering plants have been collected & described from the park. These include 17 species categorized as "possibly extinct." Various herbivores such as sambar, Asian elephants, gaur and wild boar have been observed to feed.
Thekkady bus stand is located at a distance of around 1.7 KM from the park. You can take a local auto from the bus stand to reach the park.
Kerala
