Highlights - Periyar Extension

3 nights

Periyar which is located around five hours drive from Cochin is set high in the Cardamom Hills area of the Western Ghats in southern India. It is one of the most beautiful wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The park has a diverse range of flora and fauna with 1800 flowering plants, 44 species of reptiles, 112 species of butterfly and a wide range of mammals, including a large number of Elephants, Gaur, Wild Boar, four species of primate (Bonnet Macaque, the endemic Lion-Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur and Slender Loris), Sloth Bear, Leopard, Dhole, Common and Clawless Otter and even Tiger. The reserve has a rich and varied birdlife with nearly 300 species recorded. Malabar Trogon, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Loten's Sunbird and occasionally Ceylon Frogmouth may be seen here. One of the most popular activities here is to take a boat ride on Lake Periyar to view herds of wild Elephants frolicking in the water.

Spice Village is designed as a native tribal village inspired by the tribesmen of Periyar. The rooms are spacious and furnished with simple terracotta tiled floors, wooden beds and chairs, and whitewashed walls. At the centre of the village is a swimming pool, surrounded by tropical trees and lawns. Spice Village has an exclusive and well-equipped Ayurvedic clinic. The highlight, though, is the garden itself, bursting with a rich array of spice trees. Each plant is carefully marked, and there is a resident botanist.

The Lake Palace Hotel was a former summer palace, built by Maharana Jagat Singh II in the 18th Century. It is reached by hotel launch, the accommodation being comprised of air-conditioned rooms/suites with en-suite facilities; there is a restaurant/bar, lounge area, as well as numerous courtyards, fountains, and a small swimming pool.