Parambikulam has one of the largest population of gaur (bison). Sambar, spotted deer, jungle cat, lion-tailed macaque, common otter, sloth bear etc. are the other inhabitants. There are also a few tigers and leopards. Facilities for boarding and lodging are available at the sanctuary. There are forest rest houses at Thunacadavu, Thellikkal and Elathode. Motor transport and boat cruise can be arranged on request. The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu lies adjacent.The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary located between the branches of the Periyar river is essentially a bird sanctuary. The rivers which remain shallow for most of the year has a lot of fishes and the avifauna includes birds both indigenous birds and water birds.

The most notable of the indigenous birds are the Malabar grey hornbill, grey jungle fowl, heron, egret, jungle myna, woodpecker, rose-winged and blue-winged parakeet. Often rare birds like the Ceylon frog-mouth, rose-billed roller, etc. are also seen.

Parambikulam is endowed with luxuriant vegetation. It has one of the largest population of gaur (bison), sambar, spotted deer, jungle cat, lion-tailed macaque, common otter and sloth bear are also seen. There are also a few tigers and leopards. The waters are breeding grounds for crocodiles, geckos, skunks, chameleons, while snakes like the king cobra, spectacled cobra, krait, viper, python, rat snake, vine snake are quite common.

Facilities for boarding and lodging are available at the sanctuary. There are forest rest houses at Thunacadavu, Thellikkal and Elathode. Motor transport and boat cruises can be arranged on request.

How to Get there
The nearest airport is at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu (100 km away) while the nearest railhead is at Pollachi (60 km away).

It lies in the catchment areas of Peechi and Vazhani dams in Trichur District. Peechi, the headquarters of the sanctuary is 15 km by road from Trichur.

How to Get there
Air: Nearest airport is Kochi, 98 kms.
Rail: Nearest railway station is at Thrissur, 23 kms.
General Information
Location : 23 Kms From Thrissur, Kerala
Main Attractions
Tigers, Leopards

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is composed of the dense forests and the Peppara dam built on the Karamana River and was declared as a sanctuary in 1983 to increase the drinking water supply to Thiruvananthapuram and the adjoining suburbs. Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is merged partially with the Palode reserve (24sq.kms) and the Kottoor reserve (29sq.kms); all the three together forming the whole of the area covered by the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. The wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 53 sq.kms with the reservoir spread in an area of 5.82 sq.kms. Located about 50kms. North East of capital city Thiruvananthapuram in Nedumangad taluk of Thiruvananthapuram district, the topography of the wildlife sanctuary is quite hilly.

The major wildlife species found in the wildlife sanctuary are: tiger, panther, wild dog, lion tailed macaque, elephant, gaur, sambhar, barking deer, mouse, wild boar, Nilgiri langur, Malabar squirrel etc. The bird species especially the water birds like darter, little cormorant, pied king fisher and egrets are most commonly seen in the sanctuary. Several species of snakes including the king cobra and python are dominantly present in this sanctuary. The Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is also famous for its wide variety of moth and butterflies. Apart from the wildlife, there are 13 tribal settlements in the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary.

The forest areas in the wildlife sanctuary mainly consist of three major forest belts Southern hilltop tropical evergreen forests found atop the hills with an elevation of above 1000m; West coast semi- evergreen forests that occur mostly on the hills with an elevation of 150 to 1050m; Southern moist mixed deciduous forests cover more than 60% of the area and occupy the lower slopes of the hills.

How to get there
Air : The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram (32 Kms) from where frequent and regular buses are available for Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. You can also board a flight to your desired destination after returning from the wildlife sanctuary.
Rail : The nearest railhead from the sanctuary is Thiruvananthapuram, which is well connected with Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and even Kashmir. The buses are available for the sanctuary from Trivandrum. From Trivandrum you can also board a train to depart to your desired destination.
Road : Peppara wildlife sanctuary is easily and conveniently accessible from Vithurai on Thiruvananthapuram - Ponmudi road.

The Silent Valley National Park is one of the very few unexplored tropical evergreen rain forests. Situated in the western ghats, this park offers a very soothing atmosphere. Elephants, tigers, wild dog, flying squirrel and lion-tailed macaque are found here.

This place is at 75 km from Palghat. Vehicular traffic is allowed upto Mukkali from Mannarghat. From Mukkali, one has to cover 24 km on foot to reach the source of river Kuntipuzha, which flows the valley.

Locally known as Sairandhrivanam or `the forest in the valley', the fragile tropical evergreen forest, probably the last of its kind, is home to nearly a thousand varieties of flowering plants and over hundred orchids and many rare herbal plants. It is also home to the Nilgiri langur and the lion-tailed macaque, both of which have been listed as endangered animals.

The park has several high peaks and the Kunthi river runs through it. In the 1970s and 1980s, the park came into focus when the Kerala State Electricity Board decided to construct a hydel power project in this region. In 1984, the park was again re-notified as a national park. The park is surrounded by the Attappadi Reserve Forest in the east, and the forests of the Palghat and Nilambur divisions in the west and south.

It was made core area of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986, declared a reserved land under the Forest Act in 1888 and later notified as a reserve forest by the Government of Madras in 1914. Trekking through this terrain is not easy and you will have to watch out for leeches. You are only allowed to go up to Sairandhiri, the site of the dam 23 km from Mukkali.

To venture beyond that point requires special permission from the Conservator of Forests, Northern Region, Palakkad.

Area : 77 sq. km, 89.52 sq.km, in the Kundali Hills of the Western Ghats
Best time to visit : September to March
Animals : Nilgiri langur, the lion-tailed Macaque, giant Malabar squirrel, elephant, tiger, leopard, wild bear, nilgai, sambar, great Indian hornbill, the Nilgiri laughing thrush, hundreds of species of butterflies and moths including the Ceylon frog moth and viper

How to get there
Road : Mannarkkad (40 km)
Rail : Palakkad (75 km)
Air : Thrissur (24 km) or Coimbatore (55 km)
Also visit : Parambikulam, Choolanur Peacock Sanctuary, Attappadi or Mountain Valley.