Untamed Beauty - Periyar Tiger Reserve,Thekkady
Thekkady, untamed beauty which is rich in history, culture, and biodiversity. Historically, this place was part of the princely state of Travancore, and the dense forests of Thekkady served as a major hunting ground for the kings of Travancore. The name Thekkady is believed to have originated from the words Thekku, meaning ‘teak trees,’ and adi, meaning ‘bottom’ or ‘base.’
During the colonial period, the British introduced tea, coffee, and cardamom plantations in this region. Thekkady’s pleasant climate proved ideal for cultivating these crops. Between 1887 and 1899, under the supervision of Colonel John Pennycuick, the British constructed the Mullaperiyar Dam — a gravity dam built across the Periyar River. The dam was built to prevent floods in the Travancore region and to provide drinking water and irrigation support to the Madras Presidency, which is present-day Tamil Nadu.The dam led to the formation of the Periyar Lake, which has now become a famous destination for tourists and nature enthusiasts alike.
In 1899 Periyar Lake and its surrounding forest were established as Periyar Lake Reserve and later in 1934 this place got established as Wildlife Sanctuary and in 1978 the sanctuary was declared as Tiger Reserve and officially named it as Periyar Tiger Reserve. The total area of this reserve forest is about 777 square kilometers.
Thekkady is known for having a mix of different forest types,
🌿 Tropical Evergreen Forest
🌳 Semi–Evergreen Forest
🍂 Moist Deciduous Forest
🌾 Grasslands & Shola Forest patches
Thekkady is the home of animals like elephants, Indian gaurs, sambar deer, wild boars, hornbills,cormorants and elusive predators such as leopards and tigers. We can see a blend of mammals,reptiles and birds in this reserve.
Location📍
Periyar Tiger Reserve,Thekkady,Kumily,Idukki
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