Prepared by - Ms. Uttara Abhyankar Grade 4 – Animal Resources Sanctuary

The Periyar Nature Preserve, is a protected area, and a nature reserve in the South Indian State of Kerala. The protected area covers an area of 925 km², out of which a 350 km² part of the core zone was made into the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, sometimes dubbed the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The Indian government has found an innovative solution to a national problem. Rather than prosecuting the poachers who once illegally stripped bark from sandalwood trees, the forestry department is hiring these men as park guides. In addition to providing them a better quality of life, these men now have a personal stake in protecting the preserve that they once exploited.

Nature walk or green walk - It is an interpretive sandal protection trekking programme offering excellent opportunity of watching birds, butterflies and other wildlife through a range of habitats during the 4-5 km 3-hours walk. It is a programme where one can feel nature’s whispers and her sighs!

Cloud walk- From the vantage point, you can have a look at grasslands, evergreen, deciduous and riverine forests and the expanses of irrigated arid land across the border where the nectar from Periyar provides the breath of life.

Border Hiking - It is day-long range hiking programme along the borders of Periyar Tiger Reserve. A maximum of 10 tourists can take part in the programme in 2 different groups. The trekkers along with two guides and an armed forest guard participate in the programme which starts at 8 am and ends in the evening.

Periyar Tiger Trail - In the Tiger Trail, nature lovers are in the hands of a team of guides hardy and dependable who know the forest and its ways intimately.

Bamboo Rafting -This is the dust to dawn hiking and rafting programme. It starts at 8 am through a mosaic of habitats and forest rich in bird life, arboreal animals like Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri langur, herds of elephants and gaurs. The rafting is of about 3 hours duration where one gets a panoramic view of the forest clad hills reflected on the lake. Five tourists accompanied by 2 guides and an armed guard par taking the programme. This programme caters to a maximum of 10 tourists per day.

Jungle Patrol: This programme injects excitement into the experience while keeping smugglers at bay. One really feels like a cop protecting the precious forest wealth. Of course, this best suits younger visitors fit and disciplined enough to walk in the silence of the night.

Jungle Camp - The programme provides tented accommodations for 30 persons at a time with a board room facility for projection, film shows, trekking in the forest (Windy Walks) and a chance to experience the traditional tribal food prepared by the Urali tribe.

Cottage Tents are conjures up the essence of the place-tranquillity amidst the abundance of nature. The cool breeze from the Gavi Lake, the gentle whistle of the Malabar whistling thrush or the raucous cry of the Nilgiri Langur will keep you company as you wander the grounds in perfect harmony with nature.

Bullock Cart Discoveries This programme takes you in a unique experience through farm lands, vine orchards, jasmine garden, a typical Tamil temple, coconut groves, a meandering river side trail and the sleepy village of Gudalur, the setting very similar to R.K.Narayanan’s Malgudi Days.

Mannan and Paliyan Tribal Dance The youth of the Mannan and Paliyan tribes living in the fringes of the Park are eager to revive their forgotten culture and the folklores. They have been successful in documenting the lost traditional dance forms of their cult and are all set to launch the traditional dance programmes with the support of Periyar Foundation. Dreamscapes- It is an innovative attempt to protect and utilize an old heritage building in the tourism zone of PTR. It involves protection oriented trekking and rafting programmes to keep a vigil on the illegal transit routes on the periphery of the Park. Organic Village Visit It is a programme crafted by the villagers itself in the periphery of the Park which shall take guests to the organic farm lands of the Forest Fringe Farmers Eco development Committees