| Untamed Adventure Package |
| Kerala Holiday Guide - Karma Kerala Package |
| Written by Neetu |
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We at Karma Kerala proudly announce Adventure Tourism in Periyar wildlife sanctuary , working in tandem with the help of Periyar Tiger Reserve Forest Dept. We choose Periyar since it is an exotic wildlife sanctuary blessed with the bounties of nature , and is the most ideal place in Kerala to engage in an adventure entourage. With a 360 sq. km verdant, thick evergreen forest, this sanctuary is a haven to 35 exquisite wildlife species like Nilgiri langur, giant squirrel, wild elephants, Sambar deer, Wild boar and of course tigers; Periyar was declared a 'Tiger Reserve' in the year 1978. The forest is an abode of 143 species of orchids ,171 species of grass and above all 1965 species of flowering plants. A boat ride through the artificial lake formed by the Mullai Periyar Dam and a trek through the wild expanse of the forest are some interesting activities to look out for. We offer different options for a 2/3 nights stay in a resort or in the midst of the forest to explore the Wildlife. Option 1 -The Periyar Tiger Trail - Adventure trekking and camping A unique Programme conducted by a team of poachers who turned protectors of the forests. The team members are hardy and dependable with an intimate knowledge of the forest terrain. The programmes are 1 night/2 days and 2 nights/3 days. The first day’s trek starts at 9 am and ends by noon in the second or third day. Normally 20 to 35 kms. of trekking distance will be covered, depending on the route chosen. Here, one may chance to encounter much indigenous wildlife like Nilgiri langur, giant squirrel, elephant and who knows, even the tiger! The trek route passes through hills and valleys with a variety of tropical plants and wide-open spaces. Enroute vegetarian meals will be prepared and served and country tents will be pitched for holing up in the night. Trekking groups, maximum of 5 visitors, 5 guides and 2 armed forest guards with good communication equipments, and geared to face any emergency situation. Remember to listen to unusual and strange adventure stories of the former poachers, now your guides and protectors of the forests. Preconditions for joining the tiger trail: Visitors who are medically fit and aged between 15 - 65 are advised to take the tiger trail. Visitors should be serious nature lovers willing to sacrifice some of the luxuries and comforts of a hotel. Option 2-Nature Walk - The guided day trek Unusual nature trails traversing diverse habitats form the trekking routes, generally 4 to 5 km. in length. This is an interpretive route offering excellent opportunity to watch birds, butterflies and other wildlife. The trails often pass through evergreen and moist deciduous forests interspersed with marshy grasslands. The programme is offered between 7.00 am. and 10.30 am. and between 2.00 pm. and 3.00 pm. and lasts for about 3 hours. A maximum of 5 persons can go for trekking at a time along each nature trail, accompanied by a trained tribal guide. The Nature walk is the right programme to feel nature, hear her whispers and smell her flowers. Option 3 - Border Hiking - Protection oriented range hiking A conservation oriented hard trek taking up a full day. The trekking starts at 8 o’ clock in the morning and ends in the evening. The trail through undulating terrains. Altitude ranges of 900 meters to 1300 meters will be covered and the trekkers could glimpse the lofty escarpments bordering the park watershed and the vast plains down below. Gaur, sloth bear, elephant, etc. are often seen along this route apart from birds and butterflies. Maximum of 10 tourist can take the programme in two different groups. The trekkers will go with two guides and an armed forest guard. Vegetarian refreshments can be had en route. Option 4 - Bamboo Rafting and Dawn to Dusk range hiking This is a dawn to dusk range hiking and rafting programme through some of the richest forest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Starting at 8 am from the boat landing, a mosaic of habitats will be traversed before the party gets into rafts made of bamboos. The forests are rich in bird life and arboreal animals like giant squirrel and Nilgiri langur. The rafting is for about three hours and one gets a panoramic view of forest-clad hills reflected on the lake. Animals like elephant, gaur and sambar are sighted keeping close to the edges of the lake. The team hitchhikes back to the boat landing by about 5 pm. An armed guard and 4 guides will accompany a maximum of 10 tourists. Tea, snacks and packed lunch will be served enroute. Option 5 - Jungle Patrol Shepherding the jungle This is a part of the regular night patrolling in the fringe eco development zones of the tiger reserve. By participating in this, one is actually helping in the protection of the forests of Periyar. The trekking could be at any time between 7 pm. and 4 am. and could be taken by persons having proper physical and mental fitness to trek through the wilderness in the night. The maximum duration for a slot is 3 hours and the maximum capacity of one slot is limited to 8 visitors (to move in two separate teams). They will accompany two protection watchers and one armed forest guard! Try the limits of your senses-sight, hearing and smell and take in the totally different world of nocturnal jungle life. The forest cottage at Kokkara, about an hour walk from the Forest check post is an ideal place to board two persons hoping to share the quietness of the jungle night. Here one could relax, read a book, listen to the cicada or simply watch the forests outside. The high point of the programme is walking through different forest types at prime time when animals tend to be more active. One can watch troops of langurs, giant squirrels, etc., besides many birds along this stretch. Who knows, if the goddess of fortune blesses you, a tiger could come out of the bushes chasing a herd of sambar deer! The check in time and check out time are 3 pm. and 9 am. the following day respectively. Tea, snacks and dinner are provided. Option 6- Tribal Heritage - A peep into the past Mannans are among the oldest indigenous group of people to inhabit Periyar Tiger Reserve. Till as late as 1940’s, they used to live in the remotest areas of the tiger reserve. A tribal heritage museum built inside the Mannan settlement featuring various types of artifacts related to their ancient agricultural practices, marriage ceremonies, cultural events, dress code, rituals and death ceremonies is the hub of this ecotourism programme. Display of fishing gear, hunting weaponry, indigenous medicine and vessels, cereals, medicinal herbs, bamboo furnitures, etc. are other attractions providing a peep into their original culture.Tribal heritage visit is a two hour programme available on all days from 8 am. to 12 noon and 2 pm. to 4 pm. It involves mainly the tribal museum visit and trekking through the tribal hamlet situated within the periphery of Periyar Tiger Reserve accompanied by a tribal guide. Option 7 - Bullock cart discoveries Visit the farmlands of a village hidden in the valley behind the mountains of Periyar Tiger Reserve in a bullock cart. The village is rich in bird diversity (New explorations for a serious bird watcher, also wonderful beginning for a novice). With vineyards, diverse agricultural crops of mangoes, tamarind, onions, sunflower, jasmine and a score of other vegetables, the village will take your breath away when the guides start to interpret how farming has woven delicately with the culture and the life of the natives. The bullock cart starts at 6 am in the morning and at 2.30 pm in the afternoon and is a half -day package. |
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