Touring south India is best done during the cooler months of December and April – the roads meander through verdant fields and lush forests and the scenery flashing past is so beautiful that it does take a rider a lot of will power to keep at the throttle and not pull over to just gaze out at the vistas.

AutoCar (April ’09) takes a bike trip from Bangalore to Periyar in Kerala – a distance of 620-odd kilometers…

Riding to Periyar from Bangalore can be quite a thrill for anyone who loves the challenge of an open road. The road takes one through Mysore and through the Bandipur Wildlife Reserve before you head out to Ooty – here there are some great corners to be had along the road that winds through the ghats. But one should be careful warns AutoCar (April ’09) as many of the roads have cliffs on one side and steep drops on the other. Also a few roads are closed after 6p.m. so one will have to drive thru them in the day.

After Ooty, it’s a little boring ride as one navigates the somewhat crowded city of Coimbatore and then rides thru reserves like the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctury and the Eravikulam National Park, which is home to the endangered Nilgiri tahr. The riding experience peaks at Munnar, which at 6,000 feet above sea level is Kerala’s highest point. With open well tarred roads and lush green plantations on either side – the ride is invigorating, to say the least.

From Munnar one rides thru Theddaky to reach Periyar. A hub for tourists – Periyar is a protected region that extends over an area of 777 square kilometers. Of this 350km have been converted into the national park which is located at a height of about 1,700 metres above sea level in the Idukki district.


The park is a part of the Western Ghats and home to a range of flora and fauna typical to the region. It boasts of a tiger count of 24, over 1,000 elephants, and other species such as gaur, wild dogs, barking deer and leopards. The park is also home to about 320 different species of birds, about 45 different types of reptiles and about 160 different types of insects. AutoCar (April ’09) puts in a word of caution though – a good insect repellent will be of immense use when one is touring the region, particularly if one is planning to go deep into the jungle for a trek or hike.

One can take the day long safari at the reserve which begins at 6a.m. The trek proper begins at 9a.m. which is when you finally reach the interiors of the forest. Spotting anything is purely on chance though the AutoCar (April ’09) rider did sight a dung beetle, a troop of Nilgiri black langurs, a flying ant’s nest and a Malabar flying squirrel.

It would also be worth your while to take a walk through the tribal village in Periyar, take a boat ride along the Periyar river, the longest in the state and also take a stopover at the elephant farm – a must see. Attending a cultural programme is a great way to spend the evening. You could watch some folk performances such as Kathakali, Thullal and Oppana, followed by some mouth-watering food.

A great place to quell hunger pangs is Hotel Maharani in Kumily town, which serves some delicious authentic Kerala food. Also the roads leading to and from the hotel are stunning to say the least, says Autocar (April ’09).

So this was Periyar – great roads, pleasant weather, brilliant flora and fauna, spices to take back home and a spot or two of culture that you have not experienced before. So f you have a free weekend – do head to Periyar – you won’t come back disappointed.