Looking for places to visit on your trip to Periyar National Park? We have curated a list of Periyar attractions. From spice gardens to viewpoints, this list has something for everyone.
Thekkady-Periyar village in Kerala is fondly called the Spice Village and is the most famous in Periyar National Park. Small cottages encircle it amidst the spice gardens. Spending time here in peace is an unforgettable experience for visitors. It gives you the traditional feel of not being in a city with noise and pollution.
Also, Periyar is a refreshing escape from routine life and has many places to visit in and around it. This abode is blessed with the utmost natural beauty with greenery all around. Also, Periyar Hill Station is important as it offers opportunities for tourists to go sightseeing and marvel at beautiful attractions. One of the best places is to visit Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary to indulge in bird-watching tours, jungle safaris, and trekking.
If you wish to know more about the places to visit on the Periyar National Park tour, keep reading.
Top Places To Visit On Your Periyar National Park Trip
Periyar Lake
Periyar Lake is one of the best places in Periyar National Park. It is among Kerala’s most famous lakes, often called Thekkady Lake. However, its location inside the Periyar National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary has earned it the name Periyar Lake. The Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department takes care of the lake, and a massive footfall of tourists occurs every year.
If you go back to 1895, the famous Mullaperiyar dam was built over the Periyar River. After a few years, in 1899, a masonry gravity dam formed the lake reserve. Periyar Lake was kept unspoiled by a forested area. Not many know this, but the national park where the lake is was first a private game reserve and then changed from a wildlife sanctuary to a national park. Also, the reservoir is known for water birds, which you can see on a boating tour.
Also Check out Popular Periyar Wildlife Tour Packages
Abraham’s Spice Garden
An organic spice garden, Abraham’s Spice Garden is ideal for those who want to learn more about spices, their farming, cultivation, and nutritional and medicinal values. The garden holds sessions about spice cultivation, organic agriculture, Ayurvedic practices and techniques, and the spices’ nutritional and medicinal values. Mr. Abraham started this garden in 1952 to give guided tours. It is located on the Thekkady-Kottayam route, and you can smell the aroma of the garden’s organic spices from afar.
Not just spices, but there are also medicinal herbs, flowers, and fruits in Abraham’s Spice Garden. You can learn about various processes of spice gardening, like planting, harvesting, preparing extracts, and drying. The sessions are available in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Malayalam, French, and Italian. The best part is that you can buy spices here.
Connemara Tea Factory
Among the top places to visit in Periyar National Park, Connemara Tea Factory is 13 km from Thekkady, particularly at Vandiperiyar. Built in 1940, this tea factory is one of Kerala’s most famous and among the oldest. The entire estate is blanketed with rolling hills filled with tall trees with Pepper vines. Tourists worldwide, including Russia and France, visit this tea factory. You will get a one-hour guided tour of the tea garden and the factory, giving you insight into the tea-making process.
This session starts with an audiovisual presentation that explains everything about tea. Afterward, they give you a factory tour and explain the tea-making process, including withering, cruising, tearing, fermenting, drying, and more. You learn how to make a good cup of tea and enjoy its natural taste. You can buy premium-quality tea packets from the outlet at the entrance. Note that photography and video are strictly prohibited inside Connemara Tea Factory.
Kumily, Thekkady
A beautiful town near Periyar National Park, Kumily is a famous tourist destination known for its plantation walks, abundant wildlife, boating and trekking activities, and Ayurvedic massages. Kumily is located on NH 183, connecting Kottayam through Mundakayam and Kanjirappally. Further, Kumily and Periyar make the Kumily panchayat at the intersection of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Out of all Kumily attractions, the expansive spice gardens captivate tourists the most. Kalari Center is another attraction where performers perform martial arts in the form of Kalaripayattu.
Kumily is set amid the verdant Cardamom Hills and is called the “Spice Capital of Kerala.” Trekking is one of the famous activities tourists opt for, and they visit the rugged mountain slopes near Thekkady through Kurisamala or Pandikuzhi. Make sure to visit the main attraction of Kumily, the Spice Market. Here, you can buy a collection of spices, spice chocolates, spice preserves, coffee, and tea.
Kadathanadan Kalari Centre Thekkady
On your Periyar National Park tour, a visit to Kadathanadan Kalari Center is a must. It provides a deep insight into Kerala’s culture and traditions. Performers at this center perform Kalaripayattu, one of the oldest martial arts and a gift to the modern world. Thus, it is also called the mother of all martial arts. Legends trace this art form back 3,000 years to sage Parsuram, the master of all martial art forms. Parsuram ji is also credited with reclaiming Kerala from the Arabian Sea.
Kalaripayattu is performed at Kadathanadan Kalari Centre Thekkady, keeping the safety and security of the audience in mind. It is not just to entertain you but also to teach people self-defense practices. The training of this art form has different levels—primary, Intermediate, Advanced, and Instructor. It involves unique body movements and teaches you to handle various weapons to achieve mastery.
Mangala Devi Temple
A 1,000-year-old temple inside the dense Periyar Tiger Reserve forests, Mangala Devi Temple, has an impressive architecture. It is made of massive granite and stands at 1,337 m above sea level. As the name suggests, the temple is dedicated to Goddess Mangala or Mangaladevi, known as Kannaki. Yet, after the ages of this temple being built, it still represents the moral power of a simple woman capable of taking on royalty because her cause is just.
The temple’s architecture is that of Pandyan, but there are no records of it. Locals say that the Chenguttuvan, the Chera king, built the Mangala Devi Temple. However, the temple lies in ruins, and worshipers honor the idol made of five metals on the festival day of Chithra Pournami. Locals claim an underground passage below this temple once connected it to Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. Besides, the forest department has protected the place’s ecosystem.
Mullaperiyar Dam
Another fantastic place to seek peace is Mullaperiyar Dam, one of the best places to visit in Periyar National Park. The tiger receive covers the area, and an artificial lake—Periyar Lake—was created due to Mullaperiyar Dam’s construction. The name of the dam and the lake is so because the dam is located at the confluence of the Mullayar and Periyar rivers. The dam measures 155 feet in height and 1,200 feet in width.
The construction of Mullaperiyar Dam started in 1887 and was completed in 1895. Before this, the British Corps of Royal Engineers built a dam, which was destroyed by the floods. After that, a stonework dam was built in 1895. Mullaperiyar Dam’s objective was to fulfill Madurai’s water needs in Tamil Nadu. And though the dam is in Kerala, it is still maintained by the Tamil Nadu Government.
Chellarkovil Viewpoint
At a distance of only 16 km, Chellarkovil viewpoint is one of the best places to visit near Periyar National Park. It is 11 km from Kumily and offers panoramic views of the plains and roaring waterfalls. Chellarkovil is a tiny, quiet village, one of the top tourist hotspots in the Idukki district of Kerala, and welcomes tourists from all walks of life. You will be mesmerized by the lush green mountains, the pleasant views, and the pristine waterfalls that charm the place. You can also view the plains of Tamil Nadu from 1,200 m above sea level.
Plan your visit here during the monsoon to see the beautiful waterfall flowing as the flow increases. It helps plant and vegetable cultivation and touches Tamil Nadu’s irrigated land. This place is called ‘God’s Own Balcony’ due to its spellbinding views of sunrise and sunset with a telescope. September to May is ideal for planning your trip to Chellarkovil to experience the best weather and views.
Parunthumpara Hill View Point
This hill viewpoint is an enchanting place near Periyar National Park. Located 25 km from Thekkady, Parunthumpara is a hilltop at Parunthumpara village in the Idukki district of Kerala. It is also called Eagle Rock. This is because “Parunthu” means eagle, and “para” means rock, which means it looks like an eagle and, thus, the name Parunthumpara. You can marvel at a 360-degree view of Peerumedu Hills and the surrounding region. On a clear, sunny day, you can even witness Sabarimala forests and Periyar Tiger Reserve.
If you wish to spend a day off the beaten path, Parunthumpara Hill View Point is a perfect choice. Explore the untouched beauty of the pristine forests and interact with locals for a meaningful experience. Locals also call this viewpoint Suicide Point. You can also reach it here by vehicle, but be careful of the edges and curves.
Now that you have the list of the best places to visit on your trip to the Periyar National Park, it’s time to book a Periyar tour package. Enjoy the wilderness and gain other experiences in Kerala’s top locations like Kumily, Mullaperiyar Dam, Periyar Lake, and Abraham’s Spice Garden. Guided tours, private transfers, meals, and hotels are all covered in the tour package for a hassle-free tour. So what are you waiting for? Connect with Indian Visit experts today.