is Periyar Tiger Reserve worth visiting?

Periyar Tiger Reserve is worth visiting, particularly if you enjoy forests, wildlife, boating and nature. But it’s best to visit with the right expectation: it is not a guaranteed tiger-sighting safari.

The main reasons to visit are the beautiful Periyar Lake surrounded by Western Ghats forest, the chance to see elephants, gaur, sambar, wild boar, monkeys and birdlife, and the range of guided nature experiences. The classic first-time experience is the 1.5-hour Periyar Lake boat ride.

For a stronger wildlife experience, I would choose a guided nature walk, Green Walk or bamboo-rafting programme rather than relying only on the boat trip. These let you experience the forest much more closely.