- Area of reserve
- About 777 sq km
- Sanctuary timings
- 6 AM to 6 PM
- Entry fee
- ₹45 Indian adult, ₹15 child (5 to 11), ₹500 foreign adult, plus ₹20 shuttle
- Camera fee
- ₹45 still, ₹335 video
- Boat ride length
- About 1.5 hours
- Best time
- October to May
- Ideal time needed
- 2 to 3 days
Boating on Periyar Lake
The reserve runs roughly one-and-a-half-hour boat trips on the lake. Elephants, sambar deer, gaur and wild boar often come down to the shore, while darters, egrets and kingfishers perch on dead tree stumps standing in the water, and smooth-coated otters are sometimes seen. Departures are usually at 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:15 AM, 1:45 PM and 3:30 PM. Tickets sell out, so book early; confirmed tickets are not refundable. The forest entry fee is paid separately at the information office, and a shuttle bus runs from there to the boat landing.
Treks and forest programmes
The forest department runs a range of eco-tourism programmes with trained local guides, many of them former poachers who now protect the forest. Children under 12 are not allowed on the longer ones.
- Bamboo rafting: full-day or half-day combinations of trekking and a few hours on bamboo rafts along the lake edge
- Periyar Tiger Trail: one- or two-night camping treks covering 20 to 35 km with guides and armed guards
- Border Hiking: a full-day hard trek along the reserve's edge with views over the Cumbum valley
- Nature Walk: a 4 to 5 km guided walk of about two and a half hours for birds and butterflies
- Jungle Scout: a night patrol in shifts between 7 PM and 4 AM
- Pugmark Trail: a short self-guided trail from the entrance gate to the boat landing
Beyond the reserve
Kumily, about 4 km away, is the busy strip of hotels and spice shops where most visitors stay. Spice plantation tours show cardamom, pepper, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla growing, and some homestays offer Kerala cooking classes. Evening Kathakali and Kalaripayattu shows run daily in town, typically for an hour from 7 PM. Gavi, a forest village in Pathanamthitta district, makes a full-day jeep safari; vehicles must check in with forest staff at the gate early in the morning for passes, plastic is banned and leech socks are useful in wet months.
Best time and getting there
October to March is the most comfortable season, with cool days and clear skies; the dry months of March to May bring more animals to the lake shore. The nearest airport is Madurai, about 140 km away, with Kochi a longer drive. Kottayam is the usual railhead, linked to Kumily by road. We can arrange stays, boat tickets and jeep safaris together.
Also nearby
Plan it with us
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will build the route, book the car, driver and hotels, and send you a clear quote.
