Periyar
Located in the lush jungles of Kerala, Periyar National Park offers among the best opportunities to view elephants in the wild. A visit here includes a boat cruise in the fabled Kuttanad region, as well as a day spent in and around historic Kochi (Cochin).
The terrain is hilly and the elevation of the park ranges from a few hundred feet to about 6000 feet above sea level. Periyar is home to just under a thousand elephants and also over 60 other mammal species including tigers, bison, deer, wild boar, and wild dog. There are over 300 species of birds, and even 160 species of butterfly's.
The park is situated around an artificial lake. Boat cruises around the lake offer great opportunities to view wildlife. Guided treks are available for the more adventurous. You can also observe from a few strategically placed watchtowers. Like Corbett National Park, Periyar is very scenic country, and could easily pass for a resort area just on the merits of it's lush jungles, big lake, and surrounding hills.
