Kerala   

When jungles come alive

K.S. Sudhi

ADVENTURE TOURISM: Visitors to the Periyar Tiger Reserve on the tiger trail.

KOCHI: The Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) is once again abuzz with activities. Between two monsoon seasons, the reserve opens its doors to visitors, both foreign and domestic, and showcases the splendour of one of the well-managed tiger reserves in the country.

As `Karkidakom' is entering the final phase and the sunny days of `Chingam' is slowly emerging, yet another tourist season is dawning over the reserve. An assortment of programmes and Nature experiences await visitors at the reserve. To suit the pocket of the visitors, tailor-made eco-tourism programmes that cost from Rs.100 to Rs.7,500 have been organised in the reserve.

The tourism season of Periyar starts with the Alappuzha Nehru Trophy snake boat race and it becomes active with the early visitors from Alappuzha heading to the reserve.

Those inclined to take a trek and camp in the forest can opt for the Periyar tiger trail. The visitors are taken into the forest by a team of former poachers who had turned protectors of the park. They know the interiors and forest routes better.

A usual trek will cover up to 35 km. If bird and butterfly watching find prominent place in your likings, you can go for the nature walk programme which is basically a guided day trek in the company of chirping birds and fluttering butterflies.

Border hiking, which is designed as a protection-oriented range hiking, bamboo rafting, jungle patrolling, visit to tribal heritage museum and stays at jungle inn and bamboo groves are some of the experiences that are awaiting the visitors.

Last year, nearly four-lakh visitors reached the reserve. Of this, 35,000 were foreigners. One of the specialities of the programmes is that the local population, including the tribals and marginalised communities, runs the show, said one of the reserve managers.

It was after the India Eco-Development project introduced in 1998 that the reserve evolved as one of the much sought-after eco-tourism destinations.

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