Periyar Reserve Bungalow 

The Periyar Reserve Bungalow is set amidst a sprawling cardamom plantation of six hundred acres, which lies sandwiched between the tropical evergreen forests of Periyar Tiger Reserve and Ranni Reserve. Its a colonial style ranch home built in 1930 and leads up to the hill top, a deep forest through a mud road traversed only by jeeps or on horse back.

The Bungalow is built in harmony with its natural surroundings. The ground floor has thick granite columns for walls with massive wooden windows and doors. Comfortably seated in the sitting room one can catch glimpses of wild animals like gaur, sambar and elephants come for a drink.

A wooden staircase leads up to the first floor sit out- that is actually a long L shaped veranda(porch) The sit out is open on both sides and commands a bird's eye view of the surrounding cardamom plantations and the jungles. The upper floor has two large bedrooms with tree trunks as pillars holding the ceiling and wood paneled walls. The bedrooms are aesthetically furnished and with attached bathrooms.

Being at Periyar Reserve Bungalow, gives one a feeling of being in the nature's lap. At night the surroundings are echoed with the chirping of crickets and the occasional call of a barking deer or the purring of a hungry panther. The afternoons can be spend in fishing in the lake or the river which are abundant with two types of Masheer (a species indigenous to Periyar) and different other fishes. A scenic drive in and around the valley with acres of meadows and cliffs would be apt in the evenings. While you are here, The Night Safari would be an exciting venture to take up. Armed with spotlights and cameras in an open jeep, one can see in the night the ferocity of the wild, as you encounter the crouching predator and the fleeing prey among the silent meadows and imposing trees. The guests can enjoy the outdoor dinner beside the bone fire on the lawn with excellent home made food including special recipes like mud chicken. The Periyar Reserve Bungalow is a unique experience as it is the only place where you get a comfortable homely feeling right inside the middle of the forest.