Boat safari? Massage? Jeep ride? All of the above? Today was the day we experienced Periyar in all of its glory!
We started the day early; reaching Periyar Lake with our sea legs primed, and readied with the bulkiest, brightest lifejackets imaginable. We saw egrets, mongoose, langurs, macaques... but nothing could detract from what we saw next. Three adult elephants - with one calf in tow - sharing the waters edge with a herd of bison. A truly unforgettable experience.
Mid-day gifted us with some free time, where many opted for a traditional full body massage. When asked how people found the experience, many replied with “it was interesting”!
Our final Periyar treat came in the form of a Jeep safari. Exactly as amazing as it sounds. The incredibly bumpy ride consisted of breathtaking views, dispersed with periodic stops en route; with the journey commencing at a 200 year old farm which grew spices and medicinal plants. Alison tried some Euphorbia hirta with the assurance that this would cure her asthma (verdict pending!).
Back in the jeep, we passed numerous tea plantations, and parked up outside “Gods Garden”. The path from the garden took us down to a select reach of the Periyar River, strewn with water lilies, and littered with student teachers trying to look candid.
We continued to trudge through the wilderness, with very few signs of human impact other than the less than even dirt track winding through the forests and grasslands (comparing bruises and war wounds from the bumpy ride later ensued). Even so, spirits were incredibly high; breaking through the evening birdsong with our truly stunning rendition of One Direction’s That’s What Makes You Beautiful (sorry Periyar!) as the sun set on a day to remember.
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