Periyar

• Periyar is famous for swimming elephants and that is what you should aim for as there is nothing else.
• The river safari is difficult to book during peak season in a communist state where price is low and everyone is equal.
• Night safari is overhyped and nothing is exciting about it. Classic dancing events are organized which may be worth watching.

We reached Periyar in the noon and could feel the heat and humidity even at the end of December. The cool weather of Munnar and Kodaikanal had seeped in. We stayed in a hotel which was close to the Bus Stand and hence could move around at ease. We first went to Periyar Wildlife Reserve to ask if a safari was possible. There was one night petrol being offered and we booked for three. A part of the evening was spent at Hotel Ambadi which is at the centre. The hotel served beer with food which was more than we expected.

Periyar River

The night petrol was not exactly what we expected. We came back late in the night disappointed with views of owls and some wild flowers. The next morning we woke up early. There was a ferry ride on Periyar Lake which had to be booked in advance. By the time we reached there the queue was long enough for us to change our plans. Thanks to a bustling foreigner crowd, Periyar proved to be a disaster. We again settled for Hotel Ambadi and thought it would be better to move to Alappuzha as early in the morning as possible.