Periyar National Park is situated in the hills of the Western Ghats in the state of Kerala in Southwest India. Periyar is famous for its National Park and Tiger Reserve, which is one of the most captivating wildlife parks in the world. The centerpiece of the park is the 5,500-hectare Periyar Lake formed by the construction of a dam on the Periyar River in 1895. Along the fringes of the lake are marshy areas with tall grasslands. Periyar is a haven for elephants; herds of them can be seen in a playful mood near the water holes. At Periyar large herds of Indian Elephant can be seen with relative ease as well as Nilgiri Langur near Aranya Niwas and the Lion tail Macaque in higher areas.

The forest areas of Periyar are tropical, a mixture of deciduous, semi-evergreen and characterized by tall trees, and a closed canopy. The forests alternate with extensive patches of grasslands. Periyar's rich bird life includes the Giant Hornbill, Cormorant, Darter, Osprey, and Racket-tailed Drongo. The Indian Python and King Cobra are among the reptilian fauna. Periyar has a few Nilgiri Tahr, good numbers of which may also be seen on a day excursion to nearby Eravikulam National Park near Munnar.

The main attractions of Periyar include Kumily a plantation town closely associated with Thekkady. It is situated on the outskirts of the Periyar Sanctuary. It is an important shopping center and spice trade center, the main bus station and most of the medium range accommodation in the Periyar region is in Kumily.Another important place of visit is Murikkady which is a panorama of cardamom, coffee and pepper plantations. Pandikuzhi is one of the popular picnic spots of Periyar, situated between Chellarkovil and the Tamil Nadu State border.