Accommodation and eating in the Periyar Sanctuary


Accommodation and eating in the Sanctuary

The star attraction of Periyar has to be the prospect of staying in the Forest Department watchtowers,reached by boat from Thekkady and the best way to get a hands-on experience of the jungle. For the Lake Palace, Periyar House and the Aranya Nivas you should book in advance at the KTDC offices in Thiruvananthapuram or Ernakulam - essential if you plan to come on a weekend, a public holiday, or during peak season (Dec-March), when rooms are often in short supply.

Forest Department Rest House,Edappalayam. Very basic accommodation in the woods on the far side of the lake (you have to catch the 4pm boat and then hike, so a guide is recommended). Bring your own food and bedding. Reserve in advance at the Forest Department's Visitors Centre in Thekkady; you'll be lucky to get in at a weekend or in December. Expensive, but it's an unforgettable experience. Rs300-400.

Forest Department Watchtowers,Edappalayam and Manakkavala. Even more primitive than the Rest House,but the best way of sighting game: the towers overlook waterholes in the buffer zone. Book through the Visitors Centre, and take along food, candles, matches, a torch and a sleeping bag and warm clothes. Again, you have to catch the 4pm boat and trek from the jetty, so a guide is useful. Don't consider this if it's been raining, when leeches plague the trail. Rs100-200.

KTDC Aranya Nivas,just above the boat jetty, Thekkady
Phone 0486/322023, fax 322282. Plusher than Periyar House,a colonial manor with some huge rooms, a pleasant garden, a great swimming pool, an excellent multi-cuisine restaurant, and a cozy bar. Upper deck tickets for two boat trips are included in the tariff. Rs2500 and upwards.

KTDC Lake Palace,across the lake (booked through Aranya Nivas ). The sanctuary's most luxurious hotel with six suites in a converted maharaja's game lodge surrounded by forest, with wonderful views. Charming old-fashioned rooms, great dining and a lovely lawn. This has to be one of the few places in India where you stand a chance of spotting tiger and wild elephant while sipping tea on your own veranda. Full-board only. Rs2500 and upwards.

KTDC Periyar House,midway between the park gates and the boat jetty, Thekkady
Phone 0486/322026, fax 322526. Comfortable hotel close to the lake, with a restaurant, bar, and balcony overlooking the monkey-filled woods leading down to the waterside. Not as nice a location as its neighbor Aranya Nivas,but then a lot cheaper. Ask for a lake-facing room. Rs900-2500.

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Accommodation and eating

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