One of the most famous elephant and tiger reserves in South India - Periyar National Park, located in Kerala, got his high status in 1982. He is among Kardamomskih Mountains, in the heart of the protected zone, and covers an area about 350kv km. Its height varies from 100 meters in the valley of the river Pamba up to 1700m on the eastern part of the hills. The highest peak of the park Kottamalay has a height 2019 meters. Almost in the center of the territory is a picturesque lake Periyar area of ​​about 26kv km, which was formed after the creation of the dam Mullaperiyar in 1895. And at the moment the lake is the main water source for the entire fauna of the park.

Almost the entire territory of the National Park is covered with evergreen tropical vegetation, among which are the Indian wind, hopeyu melkotsvetnuyu, kanarium, artocarpus, Bischoff Javanese and others. Some specimens of these species reach a height of 40-50 meters. In total, the Periyar grows about 2,500 species of plants, 350 of which are used for medical purposes.

The fauna in the park represented 62 species of mammals, but the most famous inhabitants are, of course, Indian elephants, who, like the Tigers are in the area a special status. Their population numbers from 900 to 1000 individuals. The number of tigers is much lower - only about 53 individuals. Among other inhabitants of Periyar has Gaura, bison, sambar, Indian Olenka, muntjac, mongooses, foxes and leopards. Also, if you're lucky, there can be found in the Red Book nilgiriyskogo packaging. In addition, the park is found in a variety of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and in the lake - fish.

Every year the park Periyar visited by 4 million tourists from all over the world.