Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary (50 km from Thiruvananthapuram)
Main attractions: Elephants, sambar deer, leopards and lion tailed macques.

Neyyar wildlife Sanctuary (30 km from Thiruvananthapuram)
Main attractions: Elephants , gaurs, sloth, bears, Nilgiri tahrs, lion safari park.

Trekking Trails: Agasthyarkoodam (Thiruvananthapuram), the second highest peak in Kerala, at a height of 1890 m above sea level.
(Rcommended season for trekking: December to April)
 

Shenduruni Wildlife Sanctuary (66 km from town on the Kollam-Shencotta road) : Main attractions: Elephatns, tigers, leopards, bears, lion tailed macques.
Acces: Nearest Airport: Thiruvananthapuram (72 Kms) Nearest Railhead : Thenmala, connected with Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kashmir. Motorable Road connected with Kollam Town and Thiruvananthapuram city.
Pathanapuram taluk, 66 km from Kollam town on the Kollam - Shencotta road. The Shenduruny forest was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1984. The Name Shenduruny comes from an endemic species of tree called Chenkuruny (gluta travancoria), mainly confined to this region. The artificial lake formed by the parappar dam built across the shenduruny and kulathupuzha rivers occupies the central region of the sanctuary.
 

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (16 km from Kottayam town, on the banks of the Vembanad Lake)
Main attractions: Local birds like the water fowl, cuckoo, owl, egret, herons and the water duck, as well as the migratory Siberian duck.
The best time to bird watch: Between June and August. (Migratory birds: November- February) Boats: Houseboats and motor boats are available on hire for bird watching cruises on the lake.
 

Periyar Tiger Reserve
One of the world's most fascinating natural wildlife sanctuaries, Thekaddy is noted for its geomorphology, wildlife and beautiful landscape. This sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978, Entry to the Periyar Wildlfie Sanctuary: 0600-1800 hrs . More >>
 

Thettekkad Bird Sanctuary (Devikulam Taluk):
The sanctuary was designed by Dr.Salim Ali, the renowned omithologist. He is reported to have identified 167 birds and his student, Dr. Sugathan, 207, In addition, the Bombay Natural History Society has identified 253 species here.
Main attractions: Birds: Indian rollers, cuckoos, common snipes, crow pheasants, jungle nightjar, kites, grey drongos, Malabar trongons, woodpeckers, large pied wagtails, baya sparrows, grey jngle fowls, Indian hill mynas, robins, jungle babblers, sunbirds and darters.
Rare Birds: Crimson-throated barbets, bee-eaters, shrikes, fairy bluebirds, grey-headed fishing eagles, black winged kites, night herons, grey hornbills and Malabar hornbills.
 

The sanctuary was designed by Dr.Salim Ali, the renowned omithologist. He is reported to have identified 167 birds and his student, Dr. Sugathan, 207, In addition, the Bombay Natural History Society has identified 253 species here.
Main attractions: Birds: Indian rollers, cuckoos, common snipes, crow pheasants, jungle nightjar, kites, grey drongos, Malabar trongons, woodpeckers, large pied wagtails, baya sparrows, grey jngle fowls, Indian hill mynas, robins, jungle babblers, sunbirds and darters.
Rare Birds: Crimson-throated barbets, bee-eaters, shrikes, fairy bluebirds, grey-headed fishing eagles, black winged kites, night herons, grey hornbills and Malabar hornbills.
 

Silent Valley National Park (40 km from Mannarghat):
Main attractions: Elephants, tigers, wild boars, flying squirrels, lion tailed macaques and king cobras.
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Main attractions: Fauna: Mammals: Bonnet macaques, lion, tailed macaques, Nilgiri langurs, loris, tigers, lwopards, jungle cats, mongoose, focen, bears, elephants, gaurs, Nilgiri tahrs, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, wild boars, pangolins etc. Reptiles: Crocodiles, varanur pond terrapins, cane trutiles, geckoes, skunks, chameleons, snakes like king cobras, spectacled cobras, kraits, vipers, pythons, green keel backs, rat snakes, vine snakes. Fishes: Arals, brals, vatudis, thilopias, noovis, mooshus, poochittis, kollotties, exypriuses, tarals, mahaseer etc. Capped kingfisher, great Indian bombills, broad billed rollers, back woodpeckers. Flora: Neem, nanjanathi, sandal, dendrocalamus and bamboosa arundinacea, teak, vengal, muzhukanjiram, maruthu, vaka, mulluvenga, rosewood, manjakadambu pala, elavu, vembu, aval, vanteak… A gaint teak, 40 m high and 6.4 m in girth and apthy named kannimaram the first tree, stands as a monuments of the past.
Trekking trails: Dhoni, Seethakundu and Govindamalai hills.
 

The Peechi-Vazhani Sanctuary comprising of the dense, moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests is situated in the catchment area of the Peechi and Vazhani dams.
With more than 50 species of orchids and medicinal plants, the sanctuary is a veritable treasure trove of rare flora and fauna. The place is congenial for boating and trekking.
The Wild Population
The natural habitat at Peechi-Vazhani Sanctuary is frequented by Tigers, Leopards and Wild Dogs, besides the Sambar and the Spotted and Barking deer. There are more than 50 species of orchids and medicinal plants.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air: Nearest airport is Kochi, 98 kms.
Rail: Nearest railway station is at Thrissur, 23 kms.
 

Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary located 70 kms from Kollam, on the Kollam-Shencotta Road, is a green valley of splendid forests, situated on the banks of the Shendurny River. Steep and rugged peaks surround the sanctuary, which is dotted by several breathtaking ravines.
On the northern side of the sanctuary is Palaruvi, a beautiful picnic spot. In the tropical evergreen and mixed deciduous forests here are found a variety of animals.
The Wild Population
The park is rich in flora and fauna and is a haven to a variety of animals such as Elephants, Gaurs, Barking Deers, Cobra, Viper, Python and the Indian Porcupine.

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