Cruising in Periyar Lake

It’s quite amazing cruising at Periyar Lake inside the Periyar National Park in Thekkady, in the Idukki district of Kerala. Cumbum is the nearest town rearing Tamil Nadu just like Kumily for Kerala. The weather was moisture and cool when we arrived at Thekkady one evening and got tickets to enter the park area and reached the Periyar Lake boat landing - a 5 minute drive from Kerala check post. It was the last cruise that supposes to leave landing, but seeing us they delayed the steering of cruise. There weren't ramps leading down to boat landing but with the help of my family I was bore into the cruise shifted to a chair.

It started to drizzle slightly once on board but gladly it hadn't rain until leaving down the hills and the drizzle was stable continue to sooth as well shiver in cold. The cruise passes through thick shoals and grasslands, were one can find gaurs, deer and elephants grazing along. During our cruise, we got to see few bison and deer at only far distance and a crocodile lying on a bank. The cruise lasted for about two hours (4-6 pm) and ours was the large cruise boat with rooftop seating and viewing facility. This cruise can’t get close to bank to watch animals nearby unlike the other medium boats, but it was the only cruise I could board.

There are number of teak trees barely stands in middle of lake allover and only talented drivers could steer boats amid them. One could also find eagle or vulture sometime perching those bare trees. It is also believed Thekkady is derived from the word ‘Thekku’ meaning ‘teak trees’ in the bilingual - Tamil and Malayalam. Located among the low-lying hilly area of Idukki district, Thekkady is one of an important tourist places amongst many flourished throughout Kerala.

Periyar Lake is actually a river called Mullaiperiyar (big mountain river) and the Dam build across this river had created this artificial lake, fabulous in shape amid wild flora and fauna. A tragedy took place in the lake in 2009, losing number of lives to cruise upset, had created great panic among many taking the rides and only after this incident, using of life-jackets spread across many water tourism in India. Besides all, it’s quite pleasure taking a cruise in Periyar lake and exciting to see anything dark and motion on bank. The weather prevail there is awesome since located about 1000 meter above sea level, the best time to visit was post monsoon, when water level is height.