Kerala Wildlife

Kerala, better called as God's Own Country, is bestowed with mountains, backwaters, lakes, rivers and many wildlife sanctuaries. Wildlife is as much a feature of Kerala as are its spread out lakes. The topography of Kerala is roughly divided into three zones, which are coastal line and the neighboring regions, central plains and the eastern low lying hills. The eastern boundary as such contains most of the forest lands, which are inhabited by rich flora and fauna. Amongst the many wild species that roam in the covers of Kerala Elephant is the most ubiquitous. Some other species found at large are tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sambars, gaurs and numerous birds that flock in and around the backwaters.

There are as many as 21 wildlife sanctuaries that stand spread out in the state. These sanctuaries provide covers as well as state protection to many woodland species. The sanctuaries form great picnic spots and are crowded usually during vacations. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary are famous tourist spots. Bird lovers and people who like tinge of an adventure make sure to visit these places, while on a regular tour to the state. The sanctuaries are located in several districts and as such have multiple access points. Wildlife Sanctuaries located in Kerala include:

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Location: Thekkady, Kerala
Area Covered: 777 sq kms
Wildlife : Gaur, Wild Boars, Sambar Deer, Bison, Barking Deer, Wild Dogs

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Location: Kottayam, Kerala
Area Covered: 101 hectares
Wildlife: Waterfowls, Cuckoo, Owl, Egret, Herons, Kingfishers and Water Ducks

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Location: Wayanad, in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in north-east Kerala.
Area Covered: 345 sq. km
Wildlife: Elephants, Tigers, Leopards, Gaur, Cheetal, Sloth Bears and Jackals.

	Best of Kerala (11 Days) Features : Starting from Cochin, the package provides the touch and feel of major tourist attractions. The sojourn is accompanied with tours to the famous hill stations, beaches, historic places and backwaters of Kerala. Places to be visited include Cochin, Periyar, Munnar, Kumarakom, Kovalam and more.

	Kerala Vacation Package (10 Days) Features : Kerala Vacation Package provides a customized tour to spend vacations at some prized attractions of Kerala. The tour emphasizes on leisure and provides for guided city tours including that of famous city Mumbai. The destinations covered by the tour are Cochin, Kumarakom, Periyar, Kovalam and Mumbai.

Kerala Backwater Tour (10 Days) Features : The tour is an ideal way of spending the vacations at Kerala backwater destinations. The package provides for a complete experience at famous lakes and lagoons of Kerala. Cruises, boat rides, city exploration and beach leisure are some of the events covered in the tour. It is an extensive tour of some selected destinations like Cochin, Periyar, Kumarakom and Kovalam.

Kerala Spice Trail (16 Days) Features : This extended tour provides for a mix of adventure and leisure. The tour showcases important tourist destinations of Kerala encompassing hill stations, beaches, plantations lands, backwaters and more. Local city tours, adventurous treks, cruises and leisure at beach are some of the events covered in the tour. The destinations covered include Trivandrum, Munnar, Madurai, Thekkady, Cochin, Alleppey and Kovalam.

Kerala and Tropical India (14 Days) Features : The tour package offers a complete road expedition of some renowned places in Kerala. The tour package provides for a more close encounter with the local population, culture and traditional beauty of the place. The rides along the Western Ghats puts through popular destinations like Madras, Mysore, Ooty, Guruvayoor, Cochin, Varkala and Kovalam. There is much adventure to be had during the entire tour.

	Captivating Kerala (08 Days) Features : The tour features some selected places in the state of Kerala. It is a complete leisure trip at destinations including Cochin, Periyar, Kumarakom and Marari Beach. The package incorporates activities like boat safari, sunset cruise, bird watching and beach activities.

India and the Tropical South (15 Days) Features : An extensive tour through popular attractions of Kerala, capturing the beauty and experience of backwaters, spice towns, hill stations, wildlife and some popular shrines. The tour features most of the destinations of Kerala, with the exception of Madurai. The destinations covered include Quilon, Alleppey, Cochin, Munnar, Madurai, Periyar, Kumarakom and Kovalam.