Photo credit: Unni P.

Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady is one of  27 tiger reserves in India. The reserve’s diverse environment includes tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests, grass lands and lakes. Although Periyar is a tiger reserve, there are many more animals than just tigers to be seen in the region: elephants, bison, Sambar deer, leopards, and wild boars also share the grounds.

The reserve is perhaps most famous for its wild elephants. the picturesque 100-years-old lake formed by the Mulliperiyar Dam and its setting in the beautiful thickly forested of the Western Ghats.