The Tiger Room, behind the long verandah,
is a fine place to get your first taste of the jungle. It was set up for a wildlife
conference in 1996, and features a slide show every evening.
Another spot for a civilised introduction to the wild is the Woodhouse Bar.
It's name betrays its provenance, for on this exact spot was the residence of
A.W. Woodhouse, forest ranger and woodsman extraordinary.
In between sips of your Bloody Mary, look over the old framed prints that cluster
on the bar's smoky timbers. They make for fascinating reading. And for a nightcap,
you can pick up one of the books on the shelves. This is our little circulating
library of paperbacks, passed around among our guests as they move around the
group's properties. For some reason, mystery novels predominate!
The next day you should be all set for your first venture into the hills.
There are several options. Regular jungle treks, lasting from one to three hours,
depart most mornings. Equipped with leech-proof socks and fortified with a few
of chef Velayuthans appams, you can go on for ever!
The Periyar Tiger reserve sprawls over 777 sq. km. of diverse biosphere, including
some of the most pristine tropical rainforests in the world. It's home to
an astonishing variety of life. 140 species of orchid alone thrive here, as
do tiger, elephant, leopard, varieties of deer and rare species such as the
lion tailed macaque.
Here and there, patches of open grassland provide grazing grounds for many
of the herbivores. And along the lakeside, you're likely to spot boars and
otters, the expert fishermen of the Periyar.
The lake itself is man made and a mere 100 years old. A variety of tourist
boats ply its tranquil waters. Comforts vary, but it's a simple way to see
wildlife without leaving your deckchair.
Interested
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