Set high in the mountains of the Western Ghats at the border to Tamil Nadu, it lies in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta.

Situated on an area of 777 sq kms in the Cardamom hills region of the Western Ghats.

The 26 sq km Periyar Lake is located in the centre of the sanctuary.

Home to elephants, tigers, gaurs, sambars, lion-tailed macaques, Nilgiri langurs, wild boars, spotted deer, barking deer, stripe-necked mongoose, wild dogs, sloth bears, the Malabar giant squirrel, civet, the Nilgiri tahr.

Has over 260 species of birds including Nilgiri wood pigeons, black- winged kite, blue-winged parakeets, the Great Indian hornbill, white-bellied tree pies, laughing thrushes, fly catchers, darters, cormorants, barbets and plovers.

The park is often called by the name the Thekkady.

Established in 1934 and achieved national park status in 1982.

Its greatest attraction are the herds of wild elephants that come down to the play in the lake.