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Tour to Peppara
Facts And Figures
Area: 53 sq km
General Topography: Hilly with elevations varying from 100 m to 1717m.
Main Attraction: Elephants, Gaurs, Sloth Bears, Nilgiri Tahrs, lion-tailed Macaque
Location
The Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the major wildlife sanctuaries of Kerala and is situated on Thiruvanthapuram-Ponmudi Road, at about 50 km north-east of the state capital - Thiruvananthapuram.
Best Time to Visit:
The best time to embark on a tour to Peppara is from January to May because during the chilly winter months the animals in the sanctuary go for hibernation and during monsoon the park becomes difficult to access.
History
The area on which Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary stands was previously a part of Paruthippally range of Thiruvananthapuram Territorial Division. The immense ecological importance of the area led to Peppara's being declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1983. Abounding in wildlife and lush greenery, Peppara attracts wildlife enthusiasts from far and wide, and a tour to Peppara is a must include in your Kerala tour itinerary.
About Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
The Peppara Sanctuary encompasses parts of two other forests - Palode Reserve (24 sq.kms.) and Kottoor Reserve (29 sq. kms.). The Peppara Dam built on the Karamana River occupies an area of 5.82 sq km at the center of this popular Wildlife Sanctuary. Peppara is widely renowned for its verdant tropical forests and an enchanting variety of wild animals and birds.
The most common animals found in Peppara are elephants, sambars, leopards, lions, deer, wild boars, tigers, panthers, wild dogs, the Malabar squirrels, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, king cobras and pythons.
The different species of birds that are found in the sanctuary include Darter, Little Cormorant, Pied Kingfisher and Egret.
It is also home to a variety of reptiles like the King Cobras and Pythons besides numerous insects like moths and butterflies.
Vegetation at Peppara is in the form of the three major forest belts including Southern hilltop tropical evergreen forests found above a height of 1,000 meters; West coast semi- evergreen forests thriving between elevations of 150 meters to 1,050 meters; and Southern moist mixed deciduous forests found on the lower slopes of the hills.
Tourist Places around Peppara
Aruvikkara - The Aruvikkara reservoir is situated sixteen km north of Trivandrum city and it supplies water to the city. The place is remarkable for its exquisite scenic beauty and hence, ranks as a popular tourist spot.
Neyyattinkara - This is an ancient town lying 20km south-east of Trivandrum city. The town houses the historically important Sri Krishna Swami Temple.
Fairs and Festivals
The numerous fairs and festivals celebrated in Kerala are as varied as the land itself, and uniquely represent the culture and tradition of the state. Thiruvananthapuram being the capital of Kerala, it celebrates all major festivals of the state like Onam Festival, Thrissur Pooram, Aranmula Uthrittathi besides some tourist festivals like Food Festival, The Great Elephant Race, Nishagandhi Dance Festival to name a few.
Where to Stay
There are various hotels and tourist lodges in and around Thiruvananthapuram which caters to the needs of all kinds of visitors on a tour to Peppara. These hotels provide decent accommodation and are fully equipped to ensure a pleasant stay.
How To Reach
By Air:
The nearest airport to Peppara is at Thiruvananthapuram (55 km away).
By Rail:
The nearest railway station is at Thiruvananthapuram which is well connected with major cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and even Kashmir.
By Road:
Frequent buses are available Trivandrum to Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary.
tourism-of-india.com offers information on tour to Peppara and to other regions in Kerala, India.
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