From beautiful coral reefs to a huge mesh of rivers, from
vast backwaters to the lush green valleys, Kerala is filled with vast
topography, unlike no other Indian state. I recently visited this beautiful
land to discover the serene wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of Kerala.
Kerala is a tropical state with several wildlife excursions to explore. Be sure
to take at least a few more days to explore the length and breadth of its
wildlife.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
My first flight landed at Kochi and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
facing Vembanad Lake was my first top in the backwaters of Kerala. This bird
sanctuary houses a huge number of migratory birds in the country. I spotted
herons, larks, cuckoos, owls, flycatchers, and Siberian crane. I’ve had a great
start to my wildlife expedition.
Eravikulam National Park
Located only 15 km from Munnar, Eravikulam National Park is
a serene grassland ecosystem with beautiful rivulets lie in the Idukki
district. The national park is well regarded for an endangered goat species,
Nilgiri Tahr, which I managed to come across by a stream. It was really a great
sight to behold when she was drinking from the stream calmly unaware of the
presence of tourists. Keep in mind that the park remains closed during the
calving season of these goats, i.e. from January to April.
Periyar National Park
Up next was the most exciting journey to Periyar National
Park. The tiger reserve is well located in the Western Ghats, aka Thekkady. It
is embraced with lush greens and is accessible all year-round. Keep in mind
tourists are allowed only in limited numbers at a time. I got a little
disappointed because we couldn’t find a glimpse of the tiger. But we have found
peeking deer, herds of elephants, reptiles, macaques, and a lot of birds like
the Malabar hornbills and kingfishers.
The boat cruise in the serene Lake Periyar was truly an
unforgettable and welcoming sight when I got up close and personal to the
idyllic nature. The feeling was truly spell-binding and I never wanted going
back to daily hustles and bustles of metro life.
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
We visited Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary the very next day
where we checked into a very cozy and exotic property. The sanctuary is located
in the Western Ghats and receives rainy season for around 2 months. You can
spot the near-extinct Giant Grizzled Squirrel in the deciduous region while
trekking through the serene environs.
Silent Valley National Park
It was my last stop in the Palakkad district in the Nilgiri
Mountains of Kerala and I enjoyed trekking through wildlife reserves. It is one
of the best habitats for Royal Bengal Tigers. It is one of the most serene
rainforest regions and is a paradise for a lot of flora and fauna species.
I finalized my memorable trip to explore the wildlife of
Kerala and I finally took my flight back home to Delhi. The state is
beautifully covered with biosphere reserves and forests with no lack of hotels.
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