Periyar is a protected area, and a nature reserve in the South Indian State of Kerala, set high in the mountains of the Western Ghats at the border to Tamil Nadu. Periyar offers a rare sight to the travellers. Periyar-the pride of Kerala, is situated on the banks of the Periyar lake - an artificial lake, at Thekkady. it is one of India's biggest wildlife sanctuaries.Its centrepiece, the man-made Periyar Lake at the height of 2000 feet, covers 26 sq.km. The Lake is an important source of water for the many wild animals here. Besides tiger and elephant, the sanctuary is a natural habitat to wide variety of wildlife including bison, sambar, wild boar, spotted deer, leopards, jungle cats, rare species of Malabar flying squirrel, stripe necked mongoose, black Nilgiri langurs and monkeys etc. There are plenty of water fowl which perch on the dead trees in the lake. Woodland birds, owls and hornbills can also be seen in the forest.