Periyar National Park
🇮🇳 India
🐘 Elephants at the Periyar LakeshorePeriyar National Park is a tropical rainforest in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India, cradling rolling hills, evergreen canopy, and the Periyar River. Its mist‑clad valleys and teak‑lined slopes set it apart from neighboring dry‑deciduous reserves.
9.517° N 77.158° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Asian Elephant
Elephas maximus
★ 
Tiger
Panthera tigris
★ 
Lion-tailed Macaque
Macaca silenus
📊 Most Spotted
White-cheeked Barbet
Psilopogon viridis
Southern Hill Myna
Gracula indica
Malabar Parakeet
Psittacula columboides
Black Leaf Monkey
Semnopithecus johnii
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus paradiseus
Indian Giant Squirrel
Ratufa indica
Gayal
Bos frontalis
White-bellied Treepie
Dendrocitta leucogastra
Grey Junglefowl
Gallus sonneratii
Malabar Whistling-Thrush
Myophonus horsfieldii
Malabar Grey Hornbill
Ocyceros griseus
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Pycnonotus jocosus
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Asian Elephant
Elephas maximus
★ Tiger
Panthera tigris
★ Lion-tailed Macaque
Macaca silenus
📊 Most Spotted
Black Leaf Monkey
Semnopithecus johnii
Indian Giant Squirrel
Ratufa indica
Gayal
Bos frontalis
Sambar
Rusa unicolor
Bonnet Macaque
Macaca radiata
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Indian Crested Porcupine
Hystrix indica
Stripe-necked Mongoose
Herpestes vitticollis
Jungle Palm Squirrel
Funambulus tristriatus
Indian Chevrotain
Moschiola indica
Indian Muntjac
Muntiacus muntjak
Dhole
Cuon alpinus
📊 Most Spotted
White-cheeked Barbet
Psilopogon viridis
Southern Hill Myna
Gracula indica
Malabar Parakeet
Psittacula columboides
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus paradiseus
White-bellied Treepie
Dendrocitta leucogastra
Grey Junglefowl
Gallus sonneratii
Malabar Whistling-Thrush
Myophonus horsfieldii
Malabar Grey Hornbill
Ocyceros griseus
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Pycnonotus jocosus
White-throated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
Orange Minivet
Pericrocotus flammeus
Malabar Barbet
Psilopogon malabaricus
📊 Most Spotted
Bengal Monitor
Varanus bengalensis
Large Scaled Forest Lizard
Calotes grandisquamis
Keeled Indian Mabuya
Eutropis carinata
Anamala Pit Viper
Craspedocephalus anamallensis
Indian Black Turtle
Melanochelys trijuga
Wall's Vine Snake
Ahaetulla isabellina
Mutilating Gecko
Gehyra mutilata
Western Ghats Flying Lizard
Draco dussumieri
Common Green Forest Lizard
Calotes calotes
Oriental Garden Lizard
Calotes versicolor
Dhaman
Ptyas mucosa
Common House Gecko
Hemidactylus frenatus
📊 Most Spotted
Kerala Warty Frog
Minervarya keralensis
Bicolored Frog
Clinotarsus curtipes
Keira's shrub frog
Raorchestes keirasabinae
Ponmudi Bush Frog
Raorchestes ponmudi
Variable Bush Frog
Raorchestes akroparallagi
Waynad bush frog
Pseudophilautus wynaadensis
Beautiful Dancing Frog
Micrixalus adonis
Castle Rock night frog
Nyctibatrachus petraeus
Common Indian Toad
Duttaphrynus melanostictus
Malabar Tree Toad
Pedostibes tuberculosus
Jerdon's Narrow-mouthed Frog
Uperodon montanus
Western Tree Frog
Polypedates occidentalis
Recent sightings in Periyar National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Boat Safari & Elephant Gatherings
Elephants congregate along Periyar Lake shores to drink, bathe, and socialize, offering unparalleled viewing during boat safaris.
3Lion-tailed Macaque Troop Foraging
Troops of Lion-tailed Macaques descend to lower canopy layers to feed on figs and other fruits, making them more visible to observers in the forest understory.
2Monsoon Mating Chorus
Amphibians like the Bicolored Frog and Kerala Warty Frog gather in temporary rainwater pools to breed, creating a deafening nocturnal chorus.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Boat Safari & Elephant Gatherings
- 2Monsoon Mating Chorus
- 3Lion-tailed Macaque Troop Foraging
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
We have seen elephants, Gaur (Bison) Sambar and Wild Boars every time we went on the boat.
Parina boarding the boat Throughout the boat ride, except for a few Nilgiri langoors, deer and bisons, we spotted no major wildlife.
The boat ride was pretty good and we did spot some wildlife boars, elephants, deers.
From a distance, through binoculars, we spotted a few sambar deer and wild boar drinking water.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Periyar National Park?
The most likely sightings are White-cheeked Barbet (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Southern Hill Myna (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Malabar Parakeet (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Black Leaf Monkey (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers) — among 829 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Periyar National Park for wildlife?
January has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Asian Elephant in Periyar National Park?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Asian Elephant sighting in Periyar National Park, based on 30 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Tiger in Periyar National Park?
Yes — about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Tiger sighting in Periyar National Park, based on 3 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Lion-tailed Macaque in Periyar National Park?
Yes — about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Lion-tailed Macaque sighting in Periyar National Park, based on 4 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
ExcellentHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
ExcellentHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
