BHPian arunrajk81 recently shared this with other enthusiasts: Even though Thekkady (Periyar Tiger Reserve) is only a few hours from my house, I’ve only been there once-and that too back in 3rd or 4th grade. I still remember the green Ambassador we hired, with a Matador diesel engine, and me sitting in the front bench seat with zero clue what to expect at Thekkady, other than the fun of travelling in that car. The car belongs to a neighbor, which I even remember its registration number. We had several memorable trips in that car, including visits to Kodaikanal, Bangalore, and Mysore. Those journeys are still close to my heart. We used to have a trip like this from my Parents’ LTA once in four years. One option I’m considering is the Edapalayam Watch Tower inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. It’s part of a trekking and watch tower stay program managed by the Department of Forests as part of their eco-tourism initiative in Kerala. I booked this solo trip almost eight months ago and have been counting down the days ever since. Periyar Tiger Reserve The Boating Point The Eco Shop Near the Counter A Short History of the Edapalayam Watch Tower:- In the late 19th century, the area around Periyar Lake was home to the Edapalayam Lake Palace, built to host royal guests of the Travancore kings. In 1899, the region was designated as the Periyar Lake Reserve, where an artificial lake was formed due to the construction of a Dam as part of the Mullaperiyar Hydel Project. Today, the palace is managed by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), whereas the watch tower is managed by the Kerala Forest Department. The Edapalayam Watch Tower, located near the former Lake Palace site, dates back to around 1927. It has since been renovated and reinforced to accommodate visitors. Both the palace and the tower are situated on an island rich in wildlife and birdlife. During the summer months, elephants, gaurs, sambar deer, and other animals often gather in an open field in front of the tower. For wildlife enthusiasts like me, sitting on the verandah and watching these majestic creatures in their natural habitat would be an absolute dream. Photography was not possible since it was dark. The Palace The Palace Edapalayam Watch Tower A view from the Balcony Since it had been raining almost non-stop in Kerala by the middle of June-when my reservation was scheduled-my expectations for animal sightings were quite low. Started my drive at 5 AM-because nothing beats the thrill of cruising through empty roads in that magical pre-dawn light. It’s quiet, peaceful, and feels like the world is still asleep while you’re already chasing adventure. The route I took was Kalady Kothamangalam Kattappana Kumily Thekkady. It’s a scenic drive, and thanks to the monsoon, several small waterfalls formed along the way, making the journey even more beautiful. I drove at a relaxed pace in my 2012 Renault Duster RXL 110. One of the best things about this car is that I don’t need to slow down or brake for minor road undulations, which are quite. A Water Fall on the way A waterfall on the way Another Waterfall The route from Kumily to Thekkady My Mountain Goat The reporting time was 1 PM, but I arrived almost two hours early, giving me plenty of time to do some birding around the area. I spotted a variety of species, including giant fruit bats, Malabar giant squirrels, stork-billed kingfishers, drongos, bee-eaters, magpies, and more. Giant Fruit bat Giant Fruit bat Stork-billed kingfisher Red Whiskered Bulbul Indian cuckooshrike Stork-billed kingfisher Changeable hawk-eagle Drongo The Itinerary – The adventure:- The itinerary starts with parking your car near the forest department’s counter. From there, a shuttle bus operated by the department takes you to the lake, where the sightseeing boat ride begins. You board the boat, cruise across the serene waters, and disembark near the historic Lake Palace. From there, it’s a short 15-20 minute walk through the forest to reach the Watch Tower. The Boating Point A friendly Sambar Deer – He is a Celebrity A Tourist Boat Indian Cormorant Spotted Dove Once you arrive, you’re welcomed with evening tea. If you’re up for it, you can go on a guided trek before dinner. The next morning, there’s another trekking option-either before or after breakfast. After lunch, you return via the sightseeing boat, wrapping up the experience. Now, here’s the fun part: the entire trip is accompanied by a cook, a guide, and a forest department guard armed with a shotgun. It was my first time experiencing something like this-I felt like a VIP. In all my previous treks, even in other tiger reserves, it was usually just a guide. The cook and guide are from local tribal settlements and know the forest better than anyone else. The guard, meanwhile, is from the Kerala Forest Department. For a watch tower deep inside the forest, you can only expect basic amenities-but everything was clean and well-maintained. The bathroom is located below the tower, and the entire facility is powered by solar energy. There’s a small hut beneath the tower that serves as both the kitchen and accommodation for the guards. It was only after returning that I realized I had missed taking good photos of the watchtower, as my eyes were eagerly searching for wildlife from the moment I arrived. A view from the Veranda A Tree in Front, Often Visited by the Elusive Nightjar Interestingly, the watch tower is surrounded by a trench designed to keep elephants at bay. In the jungles of India, it’s not the big cats you should be most worried about; it’s the elephants and sloth bears. The tribals who walk these paths regularly carry a stick and tap on trees occasionally to avoid unexpected close encounters with sloth bears, hoping the noise will drive them away, as sloth bears have poor eyesight. Of course, the presence of a man-eater or a rogue elephant-not just one in musth-can change everything, but such threats are not as common as we often imagine. The Trench Surrounding the Watchtower Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
